Cirrus Design tells ANN that their
front offices are getting some fine-tuning. Cirrus Design
Corporation has announced that David Coleal has been promoted to
President and COO, while Dale Klapmeier has been promoted to Vice
Chairman of the Board.
CIRRUS' new President and COO David Coleal joined Cirrus as
Executive Vice President of Manufacturing Operations in 2001 and
promoted to COO in 2003. Armed with a unique skill set of
manufacturing and process expertise along with admired leadership
abilities, Coleal orchestrated CIRRUS' successful production
ramp-up and the recruitment and training of over 700 employees at
the company's two manufacturing facilities in the US.
"I am pleased the Klapmeiers and the Cirrus Board have shown
their confidence in me with this promotion," said Coleal.
Prior to joining Cirrus, Coleal held positions at Toyota,
Caterpillar and McKinsey. At all his previous positions Coleal
focused on bringing Lean Manufacturing and other management
techniques to improve the operations of the company. "While 'Lean'
manufacturing has become an often repeated phrase, in the past 5
years Cirrus has been able to truly embrace these principles. As
President, I look forward to continue our work of improving the
business processes across the company and our new
initiatives".
CIRRUS Co-founder, Dale Klapmeier (below left, with his brother
Alan), held the position of Executive Vice President, now assumes
the role of Vice Chairman of the Board.
Dale Klapmeier said, "In less than a decade CIRRUS has become an
industry leader in aircraft design with our technological
advancements for the personal transportation aircraft. We're
extremely proud that to date we've delivered over 2,300 new
airplanes to customers." Klapmeier said, "David has been an
integral piece of the CIRRUS executive team. Alan and I chose David
as part of a growth strategy that includes an evolving organization
as well as product and services."
CIRRUS co-founder, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Alan
Klapmeier, is known for being passionate and vocal about the
importance of growing the personal transportation aircraft
industry. With the emergence of CIRRUS as an industry leader,
Klapmeier has been called upon to take an increasing role to help
guide the industry forward.
Klapmeier views these changes within CIRRUS as a very important
step for the company stating, "Critical to the growth of CIRRUS, is
the growth of the industry", and called the new executive changes a
reflection of CIRRUS' commitment to the future of the industry.
"CIRRUS brought on and has grown an extremely capable and
well-seasoned executive staff." Klapmeier added, "The moves reflect
a natural progression for the expansion of the Company.
The promotions clearly combine the passion and vision for
aviation by the Klapmeiers with the knowledge of process and
business system development of Coleal into a world-class
organization.
"The CIRRUS SR22 continues to be the world's best selling
airplane," said Coleal, "I look forward to making sure that
continues".