Cessna last week announced changes in its manufacturing leadership it says will allow it to better focus responsibilities to meet expected growth in the companys product line. Craig Estep, formerly vice president, operations, was appointed vice president, Citation/Caravan Operations. In this new role, Estep will have responsibility for all assembly and completion operations for Citation jets and Caravan turboprops. Meanwhile, Rod Holter is rejoining Cessna as vice president and general manager for Cessna – Independence, Kan. In this new role, Holter will have responsibility for the leadership and coordination of single-engine piston aircraft and Citation Mustang jet operations and related support activities in Independence. Also, Brad Thress, formerly vice president of quality, was appointed vice president, component operations. In this newly created role, Thress will have operational responsibility for electrical assembly, metal bond operations, and Cessna component production facilities in Wichita, Columbus, Ga., and Chihuahua, Mexico. Finally, Cub Marion, formerly vice president of Textron Six Sigma at Cessna, was appointed vice president, quality.
These changes will allow our senior leaders to continue to build on our extraordinary financial and operational performance as our business base and product line expands, said Jack Pelton, Cessna chairman, president and chief executive officer. All the new positions report to Ron Alberti, senior vice president, Integrated Supply Chain, and are effective immediately. According to Cessna, Holter is returning to Cessna from a senior leadership position at Eclipse Aviation; he previously held leadership positions including assembly product director and vice president, quality. Thress joined Cessna in 1992 as a demonstration pilot and has held successive positions of increased responsibility in marketing, engineering and quality. Marion joined Cessna in 2003 as Six Sigma master black belt and has implemented product and service improvement processes throughout Cessnas organization, according to the company.
