Wichita, KS - May 16, 2013 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced Kriya Shortt has been named senior vice president of Sales. Shortt will lead Cessna's global sales force.
Shortt started at Cessna in 1996 and has worked in many customer facing roles throughout her career. She has held positions of increasing responsibility in customer service, sales and marketing, and contract management and delivery. Shortt served as sales manager for Citation sales in Arizona and California, and was called on from that position to assume the role of regional vice president of sales for the southwestern United States. She most recently served as vice president of sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) based in Geneva, Switzerland.
"I strongly believe in Cessna's commitment to new investments as a statement of the company's ongoing leadership in aviation," said Shortt. "Along with the innovations we are seeing through our product introductions and service network expansions, we simultaneously are continuing to invest in our team representing the Citation brand to customers around the globe." The company recently announced global sales force expansion plans that focused on decentralized satellite offices in global markets where Cessna sees opportunity for growth.
Tom Perry will assume the role of vice president of sales for EMEA. A 21-year veteran of Cessna, Perry has extensive experience within the Cessna sales organization in Europe spanning both pre-owned and new Citations. He most recently has had primary responsibility for sales in the UK, Benelux and Nordic regions. Perry has a Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Bristol University and has held a private pilot's license since 1980. He flew with the RAF Air Squadron at Bristol and was also awarded a Royal Navy Flying Scholarship. Perry will continue to be based in the UK.
About Cessna
Cessna is the world's leading general aviation company. Since its inception in 1927, Cessna has designed, produced and delivered more than 193,500 airplanes around the globe. This includes more than 6,300 Citation business jets, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. Today, Cessna has two principal lines of business: aircraft sales and aftermarket services. Aircraft sales include Citation business jets, Caravan single-engine utility turboprops, single-engine piston aircraft and lift solutions by CitationAir. Aftermarket services include parts, maintenance, inspection and repair services. In 2011, Cessna delivered 689 aircraft, including 183 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of $2.990 billion. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at cessna.com.
About Textron
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 textron.com
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; the timing of our new product launches or certifications of our new aircraft products; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of our products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; performance issues with key suppliers or subcontractors; difficult conditions in the financial markets which may adversely impact our customers' ability to fund or finance purchases of our products; and continued demand softness or volatility in the markets in which we do business.
Contact
Contact: Andy Woodward
Cell: +1 316 517 7927
Email: awoodward@cessna.textron.com