Wichita, KS – July 6, 2010 – Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced that Peter Wilkinson will head Cessna's McCauley Propeller Systems operations as general manager, and that Bill Collier will assume control of both the turbine and propeller aircraft parts distribution groups for Cessna. Wilkinson and Collier will report to Mark Paolucci, senior vice president, Cessna Customer Service.
Wilkinson, formerly vice president of Cessna Parts Distribution (CPD2), will have responsibility for the entire McCauley value stream including manufacturing, engineering, marketing and aftermarket support. Collier, currently vice president of Cessna's Citation Parts Distribution (CPD), will assume management of CPD2 propeller aircraft support as well.
"It is important to Cessna and the McCauley business to focus on growth opportunities and development of new products. Peter's proven track record will position McCauley for this future," Paolucci said. "Bill brings a wealth of experience in distribution channel development and has demonstrated a strong focus on customer satisfaction."
Prior to joining Cessna in 1997, Wilkinson spent 10 years with British Aerospace and served in the Royal Air Force for 13 years. He has a degree in Engineering from Lincoln University and is a certified Textron Six Sigma Champion and Green Belt.
With more than 33 years in the industry, Collier joined Cessna in 2005 after positions with Air Services International and Rolls-Royce. He received an undergraduate degree from Indiana University and a master's degree from Indiana Wesleyan.
For more than 60 years, McCauley Propeller Systems has been a leader in propeller design and manufacture for commercial and general aviation. Cessna acquired McCauley in 1960.
Photo – Peter Wilkinson
Photo – Bill Collier
About Cessna Aircraft Company
Cessna is the world's leading general aviation company, based on unit sales, with five major lines of business: Citation business jets, Caravan single-engine turboprops, Cessna single-engine piston aircraft, aftermarket services and lift solutions by CitationAir. In 2009, Cessna delivered 754 aircraft, including 289 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $3.3 billion. Since the company was originally established in 1927, more than 192,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered around the world, including more than 6,000 Citations, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at www.cessna.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.