Bombardier appointed David Coleal to replace Eric Martel as president of Bombardier Business Aircraft. Martel spent 13 years at the OEM and was promoted to lead the business jet division in late 2013. Coleal had served as president and general manager for Bombardier’s Learjet division but left in 2011 to become executive v-p and general manager at Spirit Aerosystems. Bombardier also named former Pratt & Whitney executive Jim Vounassis vice president of operations strategy.

Gulfstream Aerospace named Derek Zimmerman to succeed Mark Burns as president of the product support organization. On July 1, Burns will take the helm of the company as president, stepping in as Larry Flynn retires. In addition, Gulfstream promoted L.D. Buerger to vice president of flight test. Zimmerman joined the company in 2011 as vice president of product support material. Buerger joined Gulfstream in 2007 as a G450/G550 completions team manager after serving in the U.S. Air Force.

Safran is turning over the leadership team at headquarters, along with leadership at its Snecma, Turbomeca, Aircelle and Sagem divisions. Olivier Andriès was appointed CEO of Snecma, Bruno Even becomes CEO of Turbomeca, Jean-Paul Alary CEO of Aircelle and Martin Sion CEO of Sagem. At Safran, Stéphane Abrial takes the new role of senior executive v-p of international and public affairs. Assisting Abrial in that role is Bruno Cotté, formerly executive v-p of European and international relations, and Jean-Pierre Cojan. Pierre Fabre becomes senior executive v-p of R&T and innovation, and Alex Fain was named corporate secretary. Also, Eric Dalbiès is executive v-p of strategy and M&A; Jean-Jacques Orsini executive v-p of performance and competitiveness; and Bruno Pasini deputy executive v-p of human resources.

The Aerospace Industries Association named former Exelis CEO and retired three-star general David Melcher its new president and CEO, effective June 8. He succeeds Marion Blakey, who stepped down earlier this year to become president and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University named John Watret interim president following the recent retirement announcement from president and CEO John Johnson. Watret, who joined Embry-Riddle in 1989, most recently served as senior v-p and COO.

Blackhawk Modifications named Bob Kromer senior v-p of business development and dealer relations, and Edwin Black senior v-p of sales and marketing. Kromer was most recently senior v-p of sales, marketing and customer support, while Black was formerly vice president of domestic sales.

The Westchester Aviation Association selected Brittany Davies as executive director. Davies has a 15-year background in business aviation, serving as a founding member of the Colorado Aviation Business Association and running her own aviation marketing and strategic planning firm, Windshift Consulting.

FlightSafety International appointed Kyle Davis executive director of marketing for business and commercial aviation training activities. Davis, who first joined FlightSafety in 1997, rejoined the company in 2012 as a product director after serving with EE International, Global Connections and LL Johns & Associates.

FlightSafety International appointed Gerry McRae executive director of business development; Robert McGahan director of business development, government training and simulation; and Patrick Coulter director of business development, commercial training and simulation. McRae has served with FlightSafety since 1996 and most recently was director of project management. McGahan joined FlightSafety in 1999 as a visual systems program manager for military programs and most recently was manager of military business development, visual systems. Coulter, who has been with FlightSafety since 1998, most recently was manager of FlightSafety’s Learning Centers in Toronto and Tokyo. The training organization also promoted Brian Moore to manager of its Wichita East training center. He succeeds Debbie Jones, who has retired from the company after 26 years. Moore joined the company in 1990 as an instructor for the Bonanza, Baron and Premier and most recently served as assistant manager of FlightSafety’s Wichita Cessna facility.

Cutter Aviation appointed Heather Wahl director of human resources. The company also appointed Daniel Kearns to a regional aircraft management sales position. Kearns has 15 years of sales experience, seven of them in aviation.

Ametek Singapore appointed Brian Hunter to the newly created position of vice president of sales and marketing. Hunter brings a 25-year background in aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul, including engineering, business development and operations.

Rana Das has joined Ametek MRO as divisional vice president and general manager. Das was previously president for aviation repair and service provider Turbopower.

The Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) named Mark Millam vice president technical and Christopher Rochette senior manager of events and marketing. Millam has 30 years of airline operations and safety experience, most recently as managing director of safety for Airlines for America. Rochette has 19 years of experience with non-profits. In addition, the FSF promoted Greg Marshall to vice president for global programs, Frank Jackman to vice president of communications and Susan Lausch to vice president of business operations. 

ABS Jets named Lenka Nahlovska supervisor of the charter and brokerage department. Nahlovska, who recently rejoined the company, was formerly its chief operations dispatcher.

Eveline Bisson joined Metro Aviation as director of transport business services. Most recently Bisson was the director for Metro Aviation’s Northwest MedStar program.

Derek Donahue was appointed regional director for Satcom Direct. Donahue moves to Satcom’s office in Dubai, UAE, after working as the company’s business development director for Europe.

Circor Aerospace & Defense appointed Tony Najjar group vice president of sales and marketing. Najjar has spent more than 25 years in aerospace and engineering roles, including stints with Rockwell Collins and Kaiser Aerospace.

West Star Aviation appointed Andy Waynick director of interiors at its Columbia, S.C. location. Waynick has more than 20 years of experience working on projects ranging from upholstery to design and management.

Tim Reynolds was named finance manager at Bangor International Airport (BGR) in Maine. Previously Reynolds was assistant treasurer and controller with The Bangor Daily News.

Santiago Crespo joined Columbia Helicopters as vice president of business development and marketing. Crespo previously served as vice president and general manager of oil and gas aviation at Erickson.

Phillips 66 Aviation appointed Kimberly Ruth director of programs development for general aviation and promoted Kent Holman to senior supply coordinator for general aviation marketing. Ruth has held a range of positions in the aviation industry, including alliance program director of global aviation for Chevron. A 26-year company veteran, Holman has held roles of increasing responsibility within Conoco, ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66. Most recently he served as director of closing and control for commercial product financial services.

Edward Vesely was appointed senior director of sales for Welsch Aviation. Vesely, who heads the company’s Houston location, has been a pilot for more than 40 years.

Ana Fontes was named executive v-p and general manager for Superior AvConsulting Services. Previously Fontes was the Brazilian sales and marketing representative for Superior Air Parts, part of Superior Aviation Group.

Bruce Yolken was appointed quality assurance manager for Pasternack Enterprises. Yolken joins Pasternack with more than 30 years of quality assurance experience in the aerospace and defense sectors, including stints with McDonnell Douglas and Boeing.

Farsound Aviation appointed Dianne Jones to the newly created position of vice president Americas. Jones has 20 years of aerospace industry experience, and previously worked with Farsound as a supplier.

Women In Aviation International elected three new board members: Deborah Hecker is a 737-800 first officer for American Airlines; Marci Veronie, vice president of sales and marketing at Avemco Insurance; and Abingdon Welch, founder and CEO of The Abingdon Co.

Rockwell Collins appointed Steve Nieuwsma vice president of corporate strategy. Most recently he was vice president of commercial systems engineering for the company. Succeeding Nieuwsma in that role is Leigh Parker, who previously served as senior director of commercial systems engineering avionics programs for the company.

Executive Jet Management Europe (EJME) named Janus Kamradt regional sales vice president. Kamradt joins EJME with more than eight years of experience in the private aviation market and a background in aircraft management and charter.

Gama Aviation announced a series of senior executive changes and additions following the completion of its merger with Hangar 8 and IJC earlier this year. Warren Gravell was promoted to managing director of Europe. Clive Prentice joins the company as managing director of European ground operations from Jets (UK) and Hawker Beechcraft. Ian Spreadbury joins Gama from Jet Aviation to lead the European sales team. Martin Ringrose joins from the UK’s Ministry of Defence to become managing director for the Middle East and Asia (ME&A). Richard Lineveldt will support Ringrose as general manager of ME&A air operations.

Gulfstream Aerospace appointed Stan Dixon to the newly created position of vice president of G650 continuous improvement. Dixon, who joined Gulfstream in 1999, was previously vice president of government and sustaining programs. The company also appointed Cobi Lane general manager of its service center in Las Vegas. Lane, who joined Gulfstream in 1999 as a technician, spent the past two years as a senior operations manager at the Gulfstream Savannah Service Center.