Breaking with tradition, Robinson Helicopter Company has announced the appointment of a CEO from outside the Robinson family for the first time in more than 50 years.
Starting Tuesday, Feb. 27, Kurt Robinson will step down as its president and CEO. He will be replaced by David Smith, formerly vice president of operations at the renowned aviation firm.
Smith, who joined the company in early 2023, boasts more than 20 years of experience in aviation and rotorcraft. Most notably, he held various leadership positions at Bell Flight, overseeing critical product developments and spearheading organizational growth and profitability as vice president of operations modernization. He also led TRU Simulation + Training Inc., an affiliate of Textron Aviation, specializing in pilot training solutions.
Smith’s selection marks the second leadership transition for the privately-owned company, established in 1973 by Frank Robinson from his Palos Verdes home. The initial change occurred in 2010 when Frank Robinson retired and his son, Kurt Robinson, assumed the role of president and CEO following election by the board of directors.
Robinson, who will transition to an advisory position while retaining his board of directors seat, said he began planning for his successor from the onset of his tenure.
“When I took over in 2010, one of the first things people told me was that I should be looking for my replacement,” he said in a recent interview. “It’s always been something at the back of my mind and the company’s mind. As we grow and develop, you need to find the correct time to kind of do a transition.”
The announcement strategically coincided with the start of the HAI HELI-EXPO, an annual event hosted by the Helicopter Association International to showcase advancements in vertical aviation, Robinson said.
The expo kicked off on Monday, Feb. 26, at the Anaheim Convention Center, and Robinson Helicopter Company made a notable entrance on Friday, Feb. 23, by landing…
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