Bombardier is making changes to its leadership team that will focus on carrying forward the company's positive momentum toward executing long-term growth and optimisation strategies in the key areas of defence, services, continuous product improvement and next-generation manufacturing practices.

“Bombardier has successfully embarked on its journey as a company focused on its world-class business jet portfolio. As we continue to meet or exceed targets, it is the right time to thoughtfully reshape key leadership functions to ensure the solid foundation we have set fully carries our momentum well into the future,” says president and CEO Éric Martel. “Our leadership team members are talented and have delivered on commitments time and again these past years, and this new alignment will further build upon the foundations they have successfully set for Bombardier.”

As part of the leadership structure evolution, the following alignments and appointments will take effect on 20 February, and all other existing Bombardier leadership team members will continue in their roles:

Jean-Christophe Gallagher is appointed executive vice president, aircraft sales and Bombardier Defense. Gallagher will lead all aspects of Bombardier's growing defence business as its product offering and customer base expand. He will also oversee the talented sales team led by senior vice president, new aircraft sales Peter Likoray. Under Likoray's leadership, Bombardier has grown its backlog and built local roots across the world. He will continue to deepen his and his team's passion for crafting unique experiences for Bombardier customers as they match their discerning needs to the company's exceptional portfolio.

Paul Sislian is appointed executive vice president, Bombardier aftermarket services and strategy. Having spent 15 years optimising and leading Bombardier's business jet manufacturing facilities and processes, Sislian will now carry forward and accelerate the division's strategic growth journey that saw Bombardier inaugurate four newly built or expanded maintenance facilities around the world in 2022.

All aerostructures, assembly and completions activities will be led by David Murray, who will add these responsibilities to his current mandates and is appointed to the role of executive vice president, manufacturing, IT and Bombardier Operational Excellence System (BOE). The alignment of these three functions will enable a new focus on availing teams of next-generation digital technologies to further enhance Bombardier core processes.

Éric Filion is appointed to the new role of executive vice president, programmes and supply chain. In this capacity, Filion will oversee all Bombardier supplier relationships and lead continuous, competitive improvement efforts for all in-production Bombardier aircraft. Filion previously held operations and programme leadership positions at Bombardier, including oversight of the Challenger aircraft production facility. Most recently he served as executive vice president, chief operating and customer experience officer for Hydro-Québec. Filion will join Bombardier on 20 February, 2023.

Finally, Michel Ouellette will lead engineering and product development as the group's executive vice president. After a 33 year career at Bombardier that culminated in the successful certification of the Global 7500 jet and subsequent launch of the performance-leading Global 8000 flagship aircraft, Ouellette is set to retire at the end of June 2023.

“Michel's contributions to Bombardier can certainly be enumerated at great length, and their positive and lasting impact on our people, our products and our company is simply immeasurable,” says Martel. “On behalf of everyone at Bombardier whose lives Michel has touched, I want to sincerely thank him for his leadership and passion, and wish him all the best in his next chapter. I also look forward to continuing collaborating in the months ahead, as we press forward with exciting projects.”