Mike Opheim
Satcom Direct, of Satellite Beach, Fla., named Mike Opheim vice president of business aviation sales.
Opheim brings with him nearly 30 years of experience in business aviation, with most of his career spent in various departments at Rockwell Collins. Most recently Opheim was the director of sales and marketing for MarathonNorco Aerospace.
Gulfstream Appointments
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. appointed Paul Lu, director, product support Asia. Lu will be based in Hong Kong.
Lu has been part of the aviation industry for 30 years, and has spent half of them with Gulfstream. Most recently he was the on-site program manager for the G650.
The company also named Jenny Rogers a sales director in the company’s North American Sales, East Division.
Most recently, Rogers was a New Jersey-based Northeast sales director for Hawker Beechcraft where she marketed, sold and delivered more than 30 aircraft.
Eric Branyan, John Larson
Lockheed Martin promoted Eric Branyan to vice president and F-35 program manager. He will replace John Larson, who has been promoted to Aeronautics Business Area’s vice president of program management.
Larson will be responsible for ensuring all of the business area’s programs meet their targets and Branyan will oversee the execution of the F-35 program.
AvStar Aviation Group Appointments
AvStar Aviation Group’s wholly owned subsidiary, Twin Air Calypso Limited, appointed Arthur Stevenson director of operations and Luciano Horna chief pilot.
Horna has more than 20 years experience operating in the South Florida-Caribbean environment and will be replacing Stevenson, who was promoted.
Sean Kennedy
The Air Transport Association of America named Sean Kennedy as its senior vice president of global government affairs. He will be increasing the advocacy reach of the trade organization for leading U.S. airlines.
Kennedy previously served President Obama as special assistant to the president for legislative affairs, becoming the lead White House liaison to the Senate Commerce Committee and has also guided the administration’s executive branch nominees through the confirmation process.
Greg Potter
Universal Avionics, of Tucson, Ariz., is appointed Greg Potter as Western region marketing manager.
Potter has more than 25 years of experience in the aviation industry. After a career in the U.S. Army, he worked in various sales roles at Hughes Helicopters, Goodyear Aerospace and Rockwell Collins.
Rob Fox
StandardAero promoted Rob Fox to regional sales director of its Business Aviation sector.
During his 21-year tenure with StandardAero, Fox has held many leadership and sales positions among a broad base of engine, airframe and avionics MRO platforms.
Jonathan Walker
Comlux Aviation Services, of Indianapolis, appointed Jonathan Walker to the sales estimator position.
Prior to this, Walker was the materials buyer for Applied Composites Engineering and planner/buyer for Bombardier Aerospace. He is also a former U.S. Marine Combat Engineer.
Pilatus Business Aircraft Appointments
Pilatus Business Aircraft appointed two senior business aviation leaders to the company’s executive staff. Mike Rector has been selected to be vice president of production. Rector, a six-year veteran of Pilatus, most recently worked for Emteq and ACC Integrated Services, managing engineering and operations. Rector will be responsible for all engineering, fabrication and installation of interiors, avionics and maintenance for the company’s operations in North and South America.
Tom Aniello has been named vice president of marketing. Aniello will be responsible for development and implementation of marketing strategies, branding initiatives and promotional activities in North and South America. Aniello has more than 24 years of experience within the aerospace industry and most recently lead the global marketing efforts for Cessna Aircraft Company.
Hardy Bütschi
Jet Aviation promoted Hardy Bütschi to vice president and general manager of its Saudi Arabian FBO and line maintenance operations in Jeddah and Riyadh. Bütschi succeeds interim general manager Frank Kusserow, director FBO Services for EMEA and Asia.
Bütschi has more than 20 years in the aviation industry and most recently was director of sales and customer support of Jet Aviation Dubai.