Roger Whyte, senior vice president, sales and marketing at Cessna Aircraft Co, will retire at the end of the year after 28 years with Cessna.
“Roger has been a key player and leader of Cessna’s sales force for nearly three decades,” said Jack Pelton, Cessna chairman, president and CEO. “Roger’s passion for Cessna and its products is evidenced by Cessna’s many years of success, and his customer relationship management skills have resulted in feedback which has shaped our new products. Roger’s leadership has produced a world-class Cessna Sales and Marketing team, and he leaves behind a legacy that will not soon be forgotten. We wish him all the best in his retirement.”
Replacing Whyte is Mark Paolucci, currently senior vice president, customer service. Brad Thress, currently vice president, product support, will be promoted to senior vice president, customer service.
Paolucci has more than 30 years of experience at Cessna, having started as a design engineer working in the factory and then moving to sales and marketing. He has led customer service since 2006. He has a bachelor’s degree from Central Missouri State University and is a licensed pilot with multi-engine and instrument ratings.
Thress was named vice president, customer support, in 2009 and has held positions in operations, engineering, marketing and flight operations. He joined Cessna in 1992 as a demonstration pilot. He became product marketing manager for the Citation X business jet in 1996. In 1999, he was promoted to program manager, responsible for development and certification of the Citation Sovereign business jet. In 2002 he advanced to senior product director, responsible for the production line start-up for the Sovereign. He assumed the position of vice president, quality in 2003, and, was responsible for FAA compliance, process control and variation reduction initiatives. In 2006 he was named vice president, component operations, overseeing all manufacturing operations that supply components for aircraft assembly. He served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force prior to joining Cessna. He has a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Business Administration from Baker University.
For more information: Cessna.com
Roger Whyte is a perfect gentleman. I have met him twice when I flew people to
the Cessna factory to close on the purchase Cessna Aircraft. One bought, one did not but both were treated to the same sincere respect that a customer should get but often does not. I think he was a great assist to Cessna and will be missed.