Basel/Switzerland, November 8, 2011 – Jet Aviation has appointed Ruedi Kraft as vice president of market development and completions sales at Jet Aviation Basel effective December 1, 2011. In his new role, Kraft will oversee sales for the completions business in the EMEA & Asia region.
Ruedi Kraft joins Jet Aviation Basel from Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, where he served as regional vice president for the Middle East & North Africa since 2002, responsible for new and pre-owned large-cabin and long-range aircraft. He has been a board member of the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) since its inception 2006. In his new role, Kraft reports directly to Stephan Krenz, senior vice president & general manager of Jet Aviation Basel.
With over 30 years’ business aviation experience, Ruedi is no stranger to Jet Aviation. He joined Jet Aviation Zurich as general manager in 1989, where he remained until his appointment in 1995 to vice president and general manager of the company’s then-new facility in Singapore. Ruedi was instrumental in developing and transforming the Singapore branch to a regional market leader in maintenance and FBO services before returning to Switzerland in 2001 as vice president of sales at Jet Aviation Basel. He is an apprenticed electrician, a licensed avionics engineer and has completed further studies in general management at the
Institute of Economics with the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland.
“We are delighted to welcome Ruedi back to Jet Aviation," said Krenz. "He has a proven track record in the industry and is exceptionally customer-focused. Coupled with his aviation knowledge and strong business acumen, we have no doubt that Ruedi is a valuable addition to our global network."
Jet Aviation Basel is a world-renowned completions and maintenance center employing more than 1,600 professionals. The facility has in-house design and engineering departments, along with on-site cabinetry, upholstery, fiberglass and paint shops. The organization is capable of outfitting jets as large as an Airbus A380 or the Boeing 747-8 series and has already completed numerous Airbus 319ACJ, A320, A330, A340 and Boeing B737, B757, B767 and B747-400 aircraft. Jet Aviation Basel also provides aircraft maintenance and repair services to a wide variety of business jets. It is a factory approved service center by Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Dassault and Gulfstream. The location also holds a jet aircraft repair station rating by the FAA #QV1Y440K, and the EASA #CH.145.0232 in addition to approval certificates of 21 other national aviation authorities.
Jet Aviation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), was founded in Switzerland in 1967 and is one of the leading business aviation services companies in the world. Close to 5,000 employees cater to client needs from 26 airport facilities throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North and South America. The company provides maintenance, completions and refurbishment, engineering, fixed base operations, along with aircraft management, charter services, aircraft sales and personnel services. Jet Aviation's European and U.S. aircraft management and charter divisions jointly operate a fleet of more than 200 aircraft. Please visit www.jetaviation.com.
More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.generaldynamics.com
