Mente Group has promoted Jim Lewis to senior managing director. With 46 years in the aviation industry his experience ranges from a freight and charter pilot and regional airline captain to chief pilot, sales demonstration pilot, sales manager, director and vice president.

Before joining Mente Group in 2016, Lewis' sales and marketing tenure included careers at leading OEMs, with more than $2.5 billion in aircraft transactions. He spent 16 years serving as the U.S. West Coast director for Galaxy/Gulfstream, and two and a half years at Embraer, responsible for business development and new and active accounts.

"Jim Lewis has expanded the brand of Mente Group in the western United States, Canada and the Pacific region and has proven himself as a valuable contributor to Mente and our clients," says Brian Proctor, president and CEO of Mente Group. "Our entire team congratulates Jim Lewis on this promotion, and we welcome his continuing contributions to our clients' successes."

An active aircraft owner with an Airline Transport Pilot licence, eight type ratings and over 10,000 hours of flight time, he also volunteers his time and aeroplane for Veterans Airlift Command and Challenge Air missions. Lewis holds a master's degree in aeronautical science, specialising in management, from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and a bachelor's degree in natural science from Florida Southern University.