Adam Aircraft’s Rick Adam moving on: Turns over day-to-day leadership in long-planned transition

Adam Aircraft’s board of directors named John D. Wolf as chairman and CEO earlier this month, replacing company founder Rick Adam.

Adam had said earlier this year that he was planning a transition as the company moved from development to manufacturing, but the actual decision was made only days before the announcement, said Shelly Simi, Adam Aircraft’s spokeswoman.

Wolf and company president Duncan Koerbel were hired by Adam in February, primarily to move A700 type certification forward and to build up the company’s manufacturing capability. At that time, Adam commented that Wolf’s experience in the aerospace industry and Koerbel’s in certification and manufacturing were essential to his transition plan.

The leadership change will “help move the company from a startup to what will become one of the country’s premier developers and manufacturers of Part 23 aircraft,” a company announcement said. “Rick’s entrepreneurial spirit and vision was the driving force that put Adam Aircraft on the map. We are indebted to his efforts over the past nine years as he grew the company from one employee to over 700 employees. We wish him the best as he pursues his next entrepreneurial adventure.”

Wolf stated that the company is “moving consistently toward a complete A700 Type Certificate in 2008” and into “high rate production of the A500” as it prepares to “accelerate deliveries of (its) substantial backlog of A700s.”

Rick Adam remains a substantial investor in the company, where he continues to hold four board seats, Simi said on Aug. 10. “He has great confidence in the management team,” she said.

Commenting on Adam’s entrepreneurial background, she added, “He’ll be involved in other things soon.”

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