As Previously Reported, Brent Wouters Named CEO
In stories previously reported by ANN, Alan Klapmeier, Chairman
of Cirrus Design Corporation, has named Brent Wouters to the post
of Chief Executive Officer effective February 1, 2009. Currently
President & Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Wouters (pictured
below) had served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Cirrus from early 2002 until March 2008.
Alan Klapmeier (pictured below) noted, "For some time now much
of my effort and energy has been focused on important aspects of
Cirrus outside of day-to-day operations in Duluth. In addition to
the strategic direction of the company, I continue to be very
involved in wider efforts to promote growth in General Aviation as
well as spending even more time within the Cirrus customer
community to learn how we can better serve current and future
Cirrus owners."
"In that light" Klapmeier continued, "Brent's transition to CEO
continues our efforts to build a strong and capable management
team. It also reaffirms our long-term commitment to our customers,
to our employees, to our vendor and government partners and to our
shareholders. With both broad and in-depth experience in business
and aviation, Brent will continue to build upon Cirrus' strong
success to date in his new role."
Prior to Cirrus, Wouters was the Chief Financial Officer of
International Payment Services, where he was instrumental in
completing 11 acquisitions. Mr. Wouters previously was an
award-winning equity analyst, an information technology consultant,
and an aircraft engineer and flight simulator engineer. Mr. Wouters
holds an M.B.A. from Georgia State University, an M.S. in Aerospace
Engineering from Iowa State University, and a B.A. in Math and
Physics from Iowa's Graceland University.
Interestingly, a representative of Arcapita, the majority
stakeholder in Cirrus, also weighed in on the move. "As Cirrus'
ownership partner, we strongly support Alan's appointment of Brent
to CEO," said Kevin Keough, director of the Portfolio
Management Group at the Bahrain-backed investment concern. "Cirrus
has seen its most rapid growth in the last decade as it has
delivered over 4,000 new airplanes in more than 50 countries around
the world."
Keough concluded, "Cirrus stands poised to repeat its success in
the emerging personal and light jet market with its "Vision Jet".
Cirrus enjoys strong and steady financial commitment and
operational support from Arcapita and with such a positive outlook
across all its aircraft programs, we are excited that Alan will
continue to provide overall company direction as Brent takes the
reins of day-to-day leadership".
Alan Klapmeier, who founded Cirrus along with his brother Dale,
will continue to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Cirrus and Dale remains Vice Chairman. As its Chief Executive since
inception, Alan guided Cirrus from its modest beginnings in 1984
through the development and production of the industry-leading SR20
and SR22 piston aircraft. Cirrus notes that, today, the SR22 is the
world's best selling aircraft model and it has held that position
for nearly seven consecutive years.
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