David Stark, Fred Damodaran and Michael Cornelius are to join Jeff Carr at Bournemouth-based Meridian Aviation as the new management team. Stark is now chairman of the Meridian Aviation Group that is the UK distributor for Pilatus Aircraft and a UK service centre for Thielert Diesel Engines and the Pilatus Service Centre for the UK and Spain.

Stark has been involved in general aviation for more than 20 years and has experience of financing and leasing aircraft and in the management of aviation-related companies.

Damodaran becomes the ceo, utilising his experience as a corporate manager and director of international sales. Cornelius joins as financial director, having previously held directorships with large organisations including the Grand Metropolitan Group, the Coal Board Pension Fund and Bass Leisure.

Carr, who will remain a shareholder of the company, says he is confident that with the new management in place, the group will be able to concentrate on new aircraft sales for Pilatus and continue to utilise the engineering division’s expertise for turbine engine maintenance, avionics and the installation of the Centurion 1.7 diesel engines by German manufacturer Thielert.

The group is also to continue with the development of a Spanish division following six months of planning and negotiation.

Meridian Aviation Group has also recruited Grant Donaldson as vice president sales. Grant returns to the company to head a new sales team that will continue to provide product knowledge on the range of new and used aircraft now stocked by the distributors.