MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) today announced several executive appointments to the Company’s leadership team to provide further support and development of product enhancements, customer support and increased operational efficiencies.

“Our recent management additions reflect our commitment to walking a progressive path of supporting our existing customers while pursuing innovative programs where MDHI products provide the best solution,” said Lynn Tilton, Chief Executive Officer and founder of Patriarch Partners, LLC, the private investment firm managing the funds that hold a controlling interest in MDHI. Tilton also noted that, in seeking the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter Program (LUH), MDHI has been actively preparing for the Source Selection Performance Demonstration and site visit.

The new additions to the MDHI management team include:

• Peter Hokanson joined MDHI as Chief Financial Officer. Hokanson has most recently served as Vice President - Business Administration and IT at Garrett Aviation, where he was responsible for business development, information technology, pricing, quoting and productivity. Hokanson previously served as Garrett’s Chief Financial Officer and Controller.
• Andrew Logan was named Chief Technology Officer. Logan will lead development of product enhancements, safety programs, quality assurance and the LUH program. Logan has more than 35 years experience in helicopter technology development and holds three helicopter technology patents.
• Jeffrey Snyder was named General Manager of Spare Parts and Service. Prior to joining MDHI, Snyder held senior customer service management positions at Raytheon Aircraft, Dassault Falcon Jet and B/E Aerospace.
• David Langenhuizen joined MDHI as General Manager of Operations. Previously at MDHI, he held positions as Director of Materials and Director of Operations.
• Charles Vehlow, formerly Vice President and General Manager for the Boeing Helicopter Division as well as Vice President of the Apache Program, was named Director of Operations for Patriarch Partners Management Group. He will provide production management support for increasing helicopter output to meet growing commercial demand as well as supporting the potential LUH demand. Vehlow brings more than 35 years of corporate, defense and management skills to MDHI. Most recently Vehlow was CEO of Metal Storm, a pioneer of electronic ballistics technology.
• Samuel Coleman, Director of Supply Chain Management for Patriarch Partners Management Group, will provide supply chain support to MDHI. Prior to joining Patriarch, Coleman was a plant manager for General Electric and General Manager of Supply Chain for Florida Power and Light.

The company also announced the departure of interim Chief Executive Officer Robert Rene and Chief Operating Officer Randy Kesterson. Hokanson has assumed day-to-day CEO duties while the Company conducts a search for a permanent industry chief executive. As part of a broader management realignment, Vehlow and Langenhuizen will share operational duties formerly performed by the COO.

“We continue to make enormous progress at MDHI. We are aggressively focused on working with existing customers in all areas. In particular, we have improved spare part fill rates while reducing aircraft on the ground (AOG). The results speak for themselves. Our spare part order fill rate has increased to 80 percent while reducing AOG by almost 70 percent over the last three months,” said Tilton.

About MD Helicopters
MD Helicopters is a leading manufacturer of commercial and military helicopters. The MDHI family of rotorcraft is world renowned for their value, versatility and performance. The MD Helicopters family includes the twin-engine MD Explorer®, and single engine versions of the MD 600N®, MD 520N®, MD 500E® and MD 530F®. The NOTAR® system for anti-torque control is the exclusive property of MD Helicopters. The Company is based in Mesa, Arizona.

About Patriarch Partners, LLC
Patriarch Partners, LLC is an investment firm in New York and Charlotte, North Carolina which together with its affiliates, provides portfolio management services and serves as investment advisor to multiple leveraged funds and a private equity fund. Founded in 2000 by Lynn Tilton, Patriarch provides innovative financial solutions, strategic direction and operational expertise to companies undergoing periods of pervasive change. Patriarch currently monitors credit facilities in respect to approximately $5 billion dollars of assets under its management, including  equity positions (majority and minority) in more than 65 companies. Lynn Tilton serves as Chairman of the Board of MDHI. Funds managed by Patriarch Partners own a majority and controlling interest in MDHI.

Source: MD Helicopters
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