Fort Worth, TX - April 26, 2005 - Bell Helicopter Chief Executive Officer Mike Redenbaugh announced today that Bell Helicopter is consolidating common aspects of its Customer Service and Support functions; both U.S. Military and Commercial, into one organization effective immediately.
The streamlined organization will be structured under Mike Blake, Sr. Vice President Commercial Business and Chief Service Officer. Carey Bond, Vice President Customer Services will continue to lead the commercial organization and also help Mr. Blake leverage and adapt best in practice processes into the new organizational structure.
Bell's understanding and focus on the importance of service combined with input from its customers, built an organization that supports its commercial products second to none. As Bell prepares to deliver transformational new products to the U.S. Military, there is a tremendous opportunity to strengthen support and services by leveraging the best of both worlds. These exciting steps allows for pooling of knowledge, systems, best practices and financial investments to maximize Bell's support to all customers.
Commenting on the consolidation Mr. Redenbaugh said, "This is the right move to make at this time. Bell is recognized as the premier provider of customer support and service in the helicopter industry, voted number one for 11 consecutive years by commercial operators in the Pro Pilot annual rotor wing survey. This consolidation will allow us to provide the same level of responsive service to the government that our commercial customers have enjoyed for many years. We want to leverage our benchmark setting commercial business service to help our government customer."
Addressing the move Mike Blake said, "Our nation is in conflict and our products are seeing utilization far beyond what anyone anticipated. By combining aspects of our commercial and military customer service efforts into one streamlined organization we can better provide our warfighter customer the parts and service they need, when they need them."
Bell Helicopter Textron, a subsidiary of Textron Inc., is a $1.6 billion, leading producer of commercial and military helicopters, and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce of over 7,500 employees serves customers flying Bell aircraft in over 120 countries.
Textron Inc. is a $10 billion multi-industry company with 44,000 employees in 40 countries. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, 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, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others. More information is available at www.textron.com.