Reports Mount That CEO/Pilot Mark Baker May Get The Nod To Lead AOPA

OK... the rumor mill has been a bit interesting this week as a few names finally started circulating about potential new leadership for the AOPA.

While multiple reports leaving Oshkosh suggested that Scott's Miracle Gro's Jim Hagedorn (which got some favorable comments... though many also noted that Hagedorn may have been too much of a maverick to pass the AOPA Board's muster) may have been asked to lead the stumbling organization, several highly placed sources now indicate that another veteran of Scott's is the guy who actually is getting the nod... specifically, Mark R. Baker, a pilot currently leading Orchard Supply Hardware.

If confirmed, Mark Baker (pictured) will be the second 'Baker' to lead the organization, after the extended and much celebrated leadership provided by John Baker, from 1977 to 1990.

Baker had been president and COO of Scotts from September 2008 to October 2010 before moving over to Orchard Supply Hardware LLC as president and CEO in March of 2011. An executive profile indicates that prior to Scotts, Baker had been CEO of Gander Mountain Company, Home Depot, and Scotty's Inc. Baker holds a bachelor's degree in geography from the University of Minnesota, according to the profile.

Baker's connection to aviation is apparently not well documented. He was mentioned in a 2010 EAA news release when Scotts entered into a partnership with EAA to maintain the grass runway in the warbirds area at Wittman Regional Airport. The article quotes Jim Hagedorn, whom we wrote about previously, extensively. But of Baker, it says simply "Scotts Miracle-Gro President and COO Mark Baker, who is also a pilot ..." A San Jose Mercury News report also noted that he uses a Cessna Caravan to visit the 91 Orchard stores around California and Oregon.

AOPA, of course, is saying little (especially to us) and recently stated that no final selection had been made -- but the odds are increasingly pulling toward an announcement that could take place in a matter of days (and was widely reported to be promised by early September). ANN will continue to research the matter and will report details as they become available.

(Mark Baker photo used in accordance with Creative Commons license, as allowed by PRxDigital).

FMI: www.aopa.org