ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – Jet Aviation announces the appointment of Jakob Straub as new vice president and general manager of the company's Zurich maintenance and FBO operations effective July 1, 2009. He will succeed interim general manager Paul Kempf, director quality control and chief inspector, who will facilitate Straub's introduction to his new responsibilities during a transition period.
Straub will join Jet Aviation Zurich from SR Technics Ireland in Dublin. As senior vice president and chief operating officer (COO) and member of the executive team of the Dublin operation, Straub had P&L responsibility for line and base maintenance, planning and commercial and engineering services. At Jet Aviation Zurich, he will oversee the company's maintenance and refurbishment operations as well as the fueling and FBO business. Straub will report directly to Christof Späth, Jet Aviation's senior vice president MRO & FBO services for EMEA & Asia.
As an industry veteran of 31 years, Straub started his aviation career in 1978 as aircraft mechanic at Swissair in Zurich. He then moved on in the company in various managerial positions and continued his employment in 1997 when SR Technics was established as a separate company within the Swissair Group. Since then, he held several key positions within the newly formed organization including a two year assignment as director product management for SR Technics America and as COO of the Dublin operation since October 2005. Straub holds a degree in Aircraft Engineering from the former Swissair Engineering School and a degree in Management and Economics from IFKS (Institute for Management Training Zurich).
"I am very pleased that Jakob Straub will be joining Jet Aviation Zurich in July as new vice president and general manager. He can count on a strong management team and dedicated employees. With his experience and proven track record, I am confident that he will successfully manage the Zurich operation as an important contributor to the Jet Aviation MRO and FBO organization in EMEA & Asia," says Späth. "I also wish to thank Paul Kempf, who took over as interim general manager April 1, when Thomas Rimml elected to leave Jet Aviation Zurich to pursue new career opportunities. I am glad that I can count on Paul Kempf's continued support in his current dual responsibility."
