Oversaw One Heck Of A Turnaround

She was among the most visible and personable CEOs in the aviation business... but Aero-News has just learned Gretchen L. Jahn has resigned as CEO of Mooney Airplane Company, Inc. and president of the parent company, Mooney Aerospace Group, Ltd., effective October 1 of this year.

Representatives with Mooney tell ANN Jahn decided to leave the aircraft maker to pursue other opportunities. Her resignation was accepted by the board on Tuesday. She will remain with Mooney as an advisor, to oversee FAA certification for the upcoming Acclaim.

In response to Jahn's resignation, Mooney's board of directors named Dennis E. Ferguson as CEO of Mooney Airplane Company.

In her time with the Kerrville, TX-based planemaker -- just shy of two years -- Jahn oversaw a remarkable resurgence at Mooney, including a dramatic uptick in sales.

"I have a passion for getting companies up and running," said Jahn. "It has been exciting to participate in this process at Mooney. We have accomplished many goals over my two years here, including increasing deliveries from 36 deliveries in 2004 to 85 deliveries in 2005, dramatically increasing brand recognition and order backlog, revitalizing customer support, and introducing two new aircraft earlier this year."

In April, the company unveiled the turbo-normalized Acclaim, which lays claim to the title of the world's fastest single piston engine airplane (currently espoused by Columbia for its 400.) The Acclaim has a maximum cruise speed of 237 knots. Less than 60 days later, Mooney also announced the Ovation3 -- a 310 horsepower variant of its popular M20 design that is the fastest in its class, as well.

In a 2005 interview with ANN, Jahn said she was initially reluctant to join Mooney... but that she saw "this company had the will" to improve its lot in the aviation game. Her appointment as CEO was announced at the 2004 AOPA Expo.

This past June, Jahn also celebrated her win in the 2006 Air Race Classic with her teammate, Carol Foy. Their chariot? Jahn's personal Mooney M20R Ovation2 GX, N366GJ.

"Gretchen has made a significant contribution to Mooney's revitalization and we wish her well," said Steven E. Karol, chairman of the board for Mooney Aerospace Group, Ltd.

FMI: www.mooney.com