Cirrus Aircraft Further Enhances Sales, Customer Support, and Manufacturing Operations with Promotions of Arnold, Hahn, Poelma and Hollander

DULUTH, Minn., Feb. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cirrus Aircraft today announced four promotions to key positions that further enhance its sales and customer service support capability worldwide and its manufacturing operations in Duluth. These promotions are essential steps to Cirrus' corporate strategy of broader global market presence and penetration and to enhancing its world-class aircraft manufacturing operations and supply chain management performance.

Tom Arnold has been promoted to Vice President of Aircraft Sales; Adam Hahn has been promoted to Regional Director, Europe; Gary Poelma has been promoted to Vice President of Service and Support; and Rick Hollander has been promoted to Vice President, Manufacturing & Supply Chain.

"These appointments add experienced senior leadership to the global Sales and Customer Support teams at Cirrus with some of the strongest talent we have ever had," said Todd Simmons, Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Customer Support. "The same is true in manufacturing operations and supply chain, as new senior leadership will have a positive impact on SR-Series production aircraft and on preparing for production of the Vision SF50 personal Jet. Cirrus owners, customers and partners around the globe can look forward to working with Tom, Adam, Gary and Rick and to the contributions that they will make at Cirrus Aircraft."

As Vice President of Aircraft Sales, Tom will lead the Cirrus global sales team driving the strategy and performance of retail aircraft sales worldwide. Tom joined Cirrus in 2009 as the Director of North American Sales and brings over 30 years of experience to the position from both Fortune 1000 and start-up companies, including leadership positions at Cadence Design Systems and Clarify, as well as serving as CEO of ADEXS and Stearman Technology Group.

Tom has over 4,400 flight hours and holds multiple ratings including Airline Transport Pilot. He has owned and flown many different types of aircraft from singles to twins, piston to turbine, land and amphibious. Tom became a certified flight instructor so he could teach his three sons how to fly. "I look forward to the opportunity to lead this very talented worldwide team of Cirrus Regional Directors and the International Sales Centers," said Arnold. "My experience with the North America sales team will translate to other markets as we seek to expand our sales programs and continue to grow the Cirrus Aircraft ownership base."

Jon Dauplaise, Vice President of Fleet and Special Use Aircraft Sales, continues to manage Cirrus Aircraft worldwide institutional sales.

In support of Cirrus Aircraft's commitment to European sales growth and expansion, Adam Hahn has been promoted to Regional Director, Europe. Reporting to the Vice President of Aircraft Sales, Adam will be responsible for all sales and customer support functions in Europe, including oversight and development of Cirrus International Sales Centers and Authorized Service and Training Centers in the region.

Adam has risen through Cirrus internally since 2006, initially on staff as a Cirrus Access pilot. He later transitioned into the sales and marketing department as a Marketing Coordinator and Demo Pilot. In 2009 Adam was promoted to Regional Sales Director where he has been a top sales performer in Florida and Texas. Hahn attended the University of North Dakota where he received a B.S. in Commercial Aviation and Air Traffic Control. Adam is a Commercial pilot, Certified Flight instructor, Instrument Instructor, and Multi Engine instructor with over 3,000 total flight hours.

Longtime Cirrus team member Gary Poelma's promotion to Vice President, Customer Service and Support, exemplifies Cirrus' commitment to delivering the very best assistance to its owners an operators. Gary has been with Cirrus Aircraft since 1990 and was part of the core team that prototyped, designed and certified the SR20 and the SR22. "I am privileged to have been a part of Cirrus' growth from homebuilts to a global company with the world's best-selling aircraft. I look forward to continuing the expansion of our Service and Support network for both for SR products and the Vision Personal Jet," states Poelma.

Prior to his leadership of the service and support team, Gary held multiple leadership roles at Cirrus including Project Engineer, Supervisor of Systems and Equipment Engineering, Production Line Manager, Manager of Sustaining Engineering and Director of Sustaining Engineering. Gary holds a B.S. in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and is an active private pilot.

Rick Hollander is promoted to Vice President, Manufacturing and Supply Chain, after joining Cirrus in early 2011 as Executive Director of Supply Chain. With oversight of all Cirrus manufacturing operations, Rick brings expertise in improving production efficiencies through lean materials management processes and reducing supply chain expenses while continuing to add customer value. 

Prior to Cirrus, Rick held related positions including Director of Supply Chain at SPX and Materials Manager at TRW. Rick graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and an MBA in Operations Management. Rick is a certified Six Sigma greenbelt and an active private pilot.

Known for incorporating luxury automotive ergonomics, pilot-friendly avionics and advanced safety features into its high performance airplanes, Cirrus Aircraft pioneered the use of the FAA-certified Cirrus Airframe Parachute System™ that is standard equipment on all Cirrus aircraft. For over 10 years, the Cirrus SR22 family of aircraft has been the best-selling four-place airplane in the world.

About Cirrus Aircraft
Cirrus Aircraft is a recognized leader in general aviation. Its all-composite line of personal aircraft — the SR20, SR22 and the turbocharged SR22T — incorporate innovative and advanced performance, electronic and safety technologies, including Cirrus Perspective™ by Garmin® avionics and the unique Cirrus Airframe Parachute System™ (CAPS). To date, total time on the worldwide Cirrus Aircraft SR-series fleet surpassed five million flight hours with 65 lives saved as a direct result of CAPS being a standard safety feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The Cirrus Vision SF50 jet, with nearly 500 production positions served, will provide a new personal and regional business transportation solution: the personal jet. All Cirrus aircraft are made in the U.S. with a direct sales force in North America and authorized sales centers covering export markets in 60 countries around the world. Cirrus Aircraft is wholly owned by China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co., Ltd (CAIGA). For additional information on Cirrus and its products please visit cirrusaircraft.com.

SOURCE Cirrus Aircraft