Bombardier goes after Embraer in emerging markets

MONTREAL - Bombardier Inc.'s aerospace group announced a series of appointments Thursday, following through on its commitment to kick-start lagging commercial aircraft sales in emerging markets.

Bombardier Aerospace president Guy Hachey said this week the company had doubled its aircraft sales staff in the last nine months, all of it in emerging markets. Brazilian competitor Embraer has sold many commercial planes in those regions in the last year, while Bombardier has sold practically none of its regional jets or turboprops.

Chet Fuller, senior vice-president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, said in a brief telephone interview that the three appointments Thursday boost the sales force to between 50 and 60 people, of whom nearly 40 are regional directors.

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Bombardier promoted Raphael Haddad to vice-president of sales for the Middle East and all of Africa. He was formerly senior director of sales for the Mideast and North Africa, Fuller said.

Bombardier appointed Torbjorn (Toby) Karlsson as commercial aircraft vice-president of sales for Asia-Pacific, except China, Japan, and South Korea.

The company named Anders Solem as sales vice-president for China earlier this year. The former U.S. air force officer is fluent in Japanese and conversant in mandarin Chinese.

Karlsson was previously regional managing partner with Heidrick & Struggles Industrial Practice in Singapore, where he will continue to be based.

Bombardier Aerospace also promoted Stephen Young to sales vice-president for aircraft leasing firms.

``Lessors have become hugely important,'' Fuller said.

Leasing companies now account for about 40 per cent of commercial aircraft sales around the world.

Fuller added that Bombardier will decide soon on a replacement for Gary Scott, until recently president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, who left for personal reasons.

Asked if he was the leading contender for the post, Fuller replied: ``No, I wouldn't think so. I'm a pretty busy guy.''

He said that ``soon'' could mean ``toward the end of this year or early next year.''

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