Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

<p>On Friday, Vero Beach, Fla.-based Piper Aircraft said CEO Kevin Gould will assume the company’s presidency effective December 1. The company also announced the promotion of three other Piper executives to vice president titles and another to a senior director position. Early last week, Piper president and 20-year company veteran John Becker announced his resignation, effective December 1, “to pursue other career goals.” Those elevated to vice president status include Jeff Barger, formerly senior director of manufacturing, as vice president of manufacturing operations; Dr. Dennis Olcott, formerly senior director of engineering, as vice president of engineering; and Derek Zimmerman, the former senior director of supply chain, as vice president of supply chain and aftermarket development. Mary Messuti, formerly Piper’s director of production engineering, is now the company’s senior director of Asia, a newly formed position with responsibility for development, implementation and management of assigned Asian aviation initiatives. According to Stephen Berger, Piper chairman and managing partner of parent company Imprimis, Gould “has an exciting and aggressive vision for the company…[and his] team has the experience and commitment to deliver on this vision and help solidify a durable global leadership position for Piper. We are prepared to support that vision with substantial new capital.” Imprimis<br>
<link news>acquired Piper on May 1 this year.</p>
