Cirrus Aircraft promoted chief operating officer and executive vice president Pat Waddick to the roles of COO and president Tuesday in an effort to help the company manage growth plans that had been hacked by the recession.
CEO Dale Klapmeier, who was president, will remain chief executive of the Duluth-based manufacturer of four-seat personal aircraft.
In making the announcement, Klapmeier said the company is again experiencing "sales growth and production stability" and has plans to launch a new seven-seater Vision SF50 jet. As a result, "now is the perfect time for me to hand over day to day responsibility of the business to Pat. There is no more qualified, capable or proven leader to take the enterprise to the next level."
Waddick was already COO and has been with Cirrus since its founding in 1988. He has held various jobs at the firm, including chief engineer and oversaw development of the ST50 turboprop; development of the four-seat SR20 and SR22 airplanes and the design of the new jet.
Klapmeier said he will dedicate his time to the firm's 5,300 customers, new product development and global marketing.
Dee DePass • 612-673-7725
