2030 Supplier’s profile
As the aerospace market is constantly changing, what will be the profile of 2030 supplier?
Moderator: Ken Herbert, Managing Director | RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
Mr. Ken Herbert joined RBC Capital Markets in 2021, and is covering the Aerospace & Defense sector.
Previously, he worked at Canaccord Genuity, Imperial Capital, Wedbush Securities and Citigroup in similar roles.
Ken has an MBA from the University of Michigan and a BA in Politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Ken is based in RBC’s San Francisco office.
Panel Member : JANENE COLLINS, VP SUPPLY CHAIN CONTRACTS & SOURCING | BOEING COMMERCIAL AIRPLANES
Janene Collins is vice president of the Contracts & Sourcing organization for Supply Chain, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, responsible for overseeing supply chain future planning as well as making sourcing decisions and negotiating and administering contracts to support all Boeing Commercial Airplanes programs.
Previously, Collins was director of Sourcing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes Supply Chain, responsible for the competitive bid and contract award process for sustaining, new and derivative programs. In this role she led a team of contract negotiators responsible for providing best value from the supply chain across production and the aftermarket. Prior to that, Collins was director of 737 Supplier Management for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, responsible for quality, cost, delivery, and affordability performance of the 737 supply chain. She supported a wide range of 737 business objectives including operations, engineering and finance. In this position, Collins also supported Supplier interfaces with 737 airline operators and in-service matters. Collins also served as director of Contracts for Boeing Commercial Airplanes Supplier Management, responsible for leading strategy development, planning, execution and functional excellence for external supplier contracts for sustaining, new and derivative programs. Additionally, she oversaw contract administration, including implementing contract mandates from Boeing or government and ensuring adherence to policy. An attorney, Collins served as Senior Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, where she provided legal support to Supplier Management for common commodities and structures. She was previously Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, for the real-estate division of Boeing Shared Services Group, providing legal support for Boeing’s residential leases worldwide and commercial leases in the eastern and southeastern U.S.
Collins earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government with a minor in economics from Georgetown University, a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a Masters in Business Administration from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.
Panel Member : NITIN KHANNA, PARTNER – AEROSPACE & DEFENSE GLOBAL LEAD | COGNITUS
Partner at Cognitus, A&D Industry Cloud Solutions Portfolio Lead, Disruptive Tech Entrepreneur, Thought Leader.
20+ years of consulting and advising some of the leading companies Nitin brings together a wealth of experience, industry knowledge, and deep technical skills.
Nitin and his team of experts to bring future-forward solutions with Gallop, Hamilton, and Hummingbird portfolio in partnership with SAP & SAPNS2.
Panel Member : DAVID SANGUIN, BOEING KEY ACCOUNT DIRECTOR | CONSTELLIUM
Since December 2017, David Sanguin is Constellium’s Key Account Director Boeing managing all Boeing Commercial, Defense and Space aluminum products sales and is based in Bellevue, WA.
David has a long history of supporting the aviation industry with consulting services in aerospace systems engineering and project management either from Toulouse, France or Hamburg, Germany.
Prior to moving to beautiful Seattle area in 2014, David was Global Airbus Account Director in the leading Project & Program Management consulting company in Toulouse supervising operations in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom.
David holds a Master of Engineering’s degree in mechanical design from Hautes Etudes d’Ingénieur in Lille, France and speaks French, English and German.
Panel Member : WILLIAM CECIL, DIRECTOR for AIRCRAFT DATA & EDGE SOLUTIONS | FLYHT AEROSPACE
Willie Cecil is a Director for Aircraft Data & Edge Solutions at FLYHT Aerospace.
Willie started his career as an avionics engineer working on army helicopters, but he has spent the last 25 years providing vision for avionics data and connectivity solutions including data analytical applications that consume aircraft operational data.
He is a pioneer in the field of wireless data harvesting from aircraft. More than 15 years ago, long before big data and cloud analytics platforms became mainstream, Willie championed both automated harvesting of full-flight data using cellular technology and the use of full-flight data for airline maintenance and operations as well as flight safety improvement.
At FLYHT, Willie is driving further innovation to serve airlines’ future needs with the use of SATCOM technology as well 5G airport surface data comm enabling Actionable Intelligence not previously possible. With the accelerating demand for asset data from aircraft driving new avionics technologies, Willie is helping position FLYHT to be a major system supplier for aircraft sensor data as we head towards 2030 and beyond.
OEM DISCUSSION
This panel will bring Boeing and Airbus cross-sharing their vision on market requirements and airplanes replacement for the next 20 years in the context the Industry Carbon Neutral commitment by 2050. What are the passenger expectations in term of air travel evolution (airport access, aircraft comfort and configuration, communication, flight carbon footprint, etc.)?
Moderator: RONALD EPSTEIN, MANAGING DIRECTOR AEROSPACE & DEFENSE | BANK OF AMERICA MERRILL LYNCH
Ronald J. Epstein is a managing director in Americas Equity Research covering Aerospace/Defense and Multi-Industrials with large aerospace components. He is based in New York and covers companies listed in the United States, Canada and Brazil. He joined Merrill Lynch in 2001.
In the Institutional Investor All-America Research poll, he was ranked as a top-three analyst in Aerospace & Defense Electronics for the last 13 years and #1 for the last seven years. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and is also a mentor for the Techstars Space Accelerator. He is frequently cited as an industry authority by trade and news publications and has appeared on numerous television programs. Previously, he worked as a research scientist in applied aerodynamics technology at Boeing Phantom Works. He was also an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, teaching fluid dynamics and control systems.
Dr. Epstein has a BA with highest honors from Skidmore College, an MBA with honors from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a PhD in mechanical engineering from Duke University.
Ron, his wife Catherine and their three children, Henry, Catherine and Oliver, reside in Chatham, NJ. For more information about any awards cited, visit here.
Panel Member: Bob Lange, Senior Vice President, Head of Business Analysis & Market Forecast | Airbus
Bob Lange was appointed Senior Vice President, Head of Business Analysis and Market Forecast in 2018. Bob’s team is responsible for market research and forecasting, business analysis and bench-marking to support Airbus Strategy covering products, services, and value chain positioning.
He began his career as a Future Projects engineer in the military transport segment after completing an apprenticeship and an honors degree in Engineering at Bath University. In over 30 years at Airbus, his responsibilities have alternated between marketing Airbus and its products towards the outside world and acting as the Voice of the Customer internally in the field of product development. Bob held marketing account responsibilities in North America and Asia followed by Product Marketing responsibility for A330/A340 and A3XX (A380), He subsequently led the New Product Communications team before moving to Product Strategy where he worked on the launch of the A350 XWB. His exposure to long-range markets stimulated a particular focus on aircraft interiors and cabin product development. Bob led the Interiors Marketing team before being appointed Vice President Marketing in 2011 and Head of Market Forecast and Product Strategy in 2013. Bob is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He is married with two adult sons and enjoys
rugby, football, sailing and golf.
Panel Member: DARREN HULST, VICE PRESIDENT COMMERCIAL MARKETING | THE BOEING COMPANY
Darren Hulst is vice president of Commercial Marketing for The Boeing Company. Hulst leads a team that markets the company’s family of commercial airplanes and services by understanding industry trends and market requirements, contributing to planning and product development, and supporting market positioning and sales activities. He was named to this role in March 2020.
Hulst joined Boeing in 2005 and has served in various leadership positions in Marketing including network and fleet planning, sales strategy, global market analysis, China & Asia regional marketing, and sales support analytics.
Before joining Boeing, Hulst spent eight years at Delta Air Lines, serving in various management roles in Network & Schedule Planning and Revenue Management. He is a graduate of Valparaiso University with degrees in Economics and Geography.
CLIMATE & SUSTAINABILITY
How should or may the industry evolve in order to meet the 2050 carbon neutral commitments? What are the means and tools? Sustainable Aviation Fuel / Electrical / Hydrogen / New Air Mobility? How can we address the Aviation bashing?
Moderator:FRANCOIS GUERZEDER, SENIOR VP BOEING PROGRAMS | SAFRAN GROUP
Francois spent most of his career in Customer Relationship and Business development in the Aerospace industry.
He spent 10 years located in the United States working for a French company developing engineering services and wiring harness for the aviation industry including Boeing.
Back in France in 2000, he moved to the aircraft propulsion business with GE and then Safran Group. His latest position in France was with Safran Nacelles (a business unit of Safran Group) as VP Sales & Marketing OEM and Airlines, member of the company Executive Committee. In Sept 2020, he was named in Seattle as Safran Group Corporate SVP for Boeing Programs.
Francois also represents Safran Aircraft Engines part of CFM with GE Aviation to Boeing.
Francois was graduated by the University of Nantes (France) in 1982.
Panel Member: JEAN-MICHEL HILLION, GROUP SENIOR VP STRATEGY and climate | SAFRAN GROUP
Jean-Michel joined Snecma group in 1988, as head of production testing for Elecma, the electronic division of Snecma at the time. He then created the commercial aircraft FADEC repair workshop when the CFM 56-5A / A320 entered in service, prior to heading the FADEC2 development for the CFM 56 5C / A340 engine. In 1993 he was named head of commercial aircraft programs at Elecma. He took part in the creation of Snecma Control Systems in 1998, being named head of business development. In 2001 he joined Messier-Bugatti, as director of programs for the Hydraulics and the Braking Control divisions.
Jean-Michel Hillion was subsequently named Vice President and General Manager of these Messier-Bugatti divisions. In September 2008, he took the lead to create Safran Electronics and joint ventures in Singapore and Germany as EVP and GM. In July 2013 he move to Seattle to manage for Safran group and CFM the business and relation with Boeing.
He came back to France in 2020 as SVP Engineering for Safran group and has been appointed in January 2021 as Group Senior VP in charge of Strategy and Climate.
Jean-Michel is graduated in Electronic & Software (1986) at ESEo Engineering school, holds an MBA from IAE in Paris (1991) and a master in strategy at Sup de Co Paris business school and is graduated from Safran University / IMD Lausanne Top Executives Program. He was an officer in the French Navy as air traffic controller.
Panel Member: BRIAN YUTKO, VP & CHIEF ENGINEER, SUSTAINABILITY & FUTURE MOBILITY | BOEING
Brian Yutko is the VP & Chief Engineer for Sustainability and Future Mobility at Boeing, leading a team that ensures the company’s technical expertise and market leadership in sustainability technologies, as well as emerging, advanced aerial mobility applications. Brian also oversees a portfolio of advanced aerial mobility products, including Boeing’s joint ventures with Wisk, developer of an all-electric, self-flying air taxi and SkyGrid, producer of airspace integration software.
He is also a member of Wisk’s board of directors. Brian earned a Ph.D. and a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT, and a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.
Panel Member: DIANA BIRKETT RAKOW, SVP, PUBLIC AFFAIRS & SUSTAINABILITY | ALASKA AIRLINES
Diana Birkett Rakow leads Alaska’s government affairs, ESG and sustainability, communications and community engagement with teams in Seattle, San Francisco, Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington D.C. Together, they work to grow Air Group’s business, employee engagement, and legacy of responsibility and corporate citizenship. She also leads Alaska’s venture arm, Alaska Star Ventures, and chairs the Board for the Alaska Airlines Foundation.
Diana joined Alaska Airlines after two decades in health care and public health at health insurance and care delivery organizations and the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. Diana served as vice president of public affairs, communications and brand management at Kaiser Permanente through its acquisition of Group Health. Prior to that, she was Group Health’s executive vice president of public affairs and marketing and president of the Group Health Foundation.
Diana holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and master’s degrees in public administration and public health from the University of Washington. She is on the Boards of the Seattle Metro Chamber, Pacific Science Center, Bay Area Council, and Philanthropy Northwest.
workforce & hr attractivity
How to compete with other High-Tech industries that are more attractive for young talents?
Moderator: PAUL SAHATDJIAN, CEO | SAXON AEROSPACE US
Paul Sahatdjian is an Aerospace Executive with over 20 years of staffing industry expertise. Paul’s passion to build relationships has been the foundation of his professional career. Currently CEO of Saxon Aerospace US, Paul aims to grow business beyond its firm establishment in Canada toward clients across the North American market. Throughout the past two decades in aviation, Paul has cultivated unique skills and vast industry knowledge. Prior to Saxon Aerospace US, Paul served in premier roles in order to oversee, grow, and lead recruiting teams for several of the largest aviation staffing companies in the nation. A cornerstone of Paul’s experience shines through his ability to design and create recruiting and sales operations that address complex industry challenges with tailored competitive solutions. Paul is steadfast in his commitment and passion for excellence in aviation.
panel member: CHRISTINE HADLEY, CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY DIRECTOR | SAFRAN CABIN
Christine Hadley leads Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Safran Cabin and works collaboratively with the Safran Group CSR Team, Executives and Cabin CSR site representatives to implement and develop strategic and integrated roadmaps, KPIs and communication plans. She works in partnership with site representatives in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, France, Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Tunisia and Thailand.
Safran’s CSR Strategy, Engage for the Future, aligns with the United Nations (UN) Global Compact, which Safran has been a signatory since 2014. Safran’s strategy supports 13 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and focuses on decarbonize aeronautics, be an exemplary employer, embody responsible industry and affirm our commitment to citizenship.
Joining Safran in 2019, Christine has over 20 years in the aviation industry specializing in marketing and communications. Prior to Safran, she was the Director of Marketing for Greenpoint Technologies, a VIP completion center. Before this, she held marketing and sales positions at commercial aircraft modification companies and began her career at The Boeing Company in Everett, Washington.
Christine holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University and an MBA from the University of Washington. She is on the board of Safran Cabin’s non-profit, Give & Grow that focuses on education with schools in local communities to Create, Educate and Donate.
panel member: ALEX KRUTZ, MANAGING DIRECTOR | PATRIOT INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS
Alex Krutz is the Managing Director of Patriot Industrial Partners, an Aerospace and Defense advisory firm that elevates business performance by focusing on manufacturing strategy, value creation and business transformation. He has been a consultant for Airframe OEMs, Tier 1’s and Tier 2’s on operational turnarounds and for private equity groups on value creation planning and execution. Previous to starting Patriot Industrial Partners, Alex worked for United Technologies, GKN Aerospace and various aerospace & defense businesses in roles of general management, operations, supply chain and program management. His experience spans across Engines, APUs, structures, composites and large complex assemblies.
panel member: JASON PETRAIT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | COE AEROSPACE & ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
Jason Petrait has served as the Executive Director of the Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing since November 2021. Jason acts as a state-wide liaison across industry, Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges, and economic and workforce development systems, ensuring collaboration focused on building Washington’s advanced manufacturing workforce.
Jason has worked in education and workforce development for more than a decade, most recently as Director of Funding & Strategic Partnerships at the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, Jason oversaw private grants focused on manufacturing sector strategies, aerospace apprenticeship, and workforce policy. Previously Jason served as Director of Special Projects at South Seattle College. There he managed programs and partnerships, including a 1-year machining certificate, manufacturing pre-apprenticeships, and federal, state, and local grants.
A northwest native, Jason earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and his Masters of Public Administration from Seattle University.
panel member: ROBIN TOTH, GOVERNOR’S SECTOR LEAD, DIRECTOR OF AEROSPACE | WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
As the Director of Aerospace for the Washington State Department of Commerce, Robin Toth is responsible for development of the state’s aerospace strategy, which includes maintaining and growing the aerospace ecosystem. This work includes commercial aviation, and industry subsectors such as commercial space, unmanned and autonomous systems, electric aircraft and air cargo. Robin works with businesses, industry groups, economic development groups, labor, media and others to provide a conduit to the Governor’s office, his policy staff and state legislators. Additionally, the position is responsible to promote and support workforce development, focused on educational opportunities across the continuum from grade schools to universities.
Prior to joining the Department of Commerce, Robin was the Vice President of Business Development for an economic development organization in Spokane, Washington. During her tenure, she worked with more than 100 companies that selected the Spokane region for their corporate relocation or expansion investments. This position was preceded by work at the City of Spokane as an economic development project manager which led to an award-winning EPA cleanup of a former railroad site which is now one of Spokane’s significant multi-use neighborhoods. Robin’s experience included extensive marketing and communications work for information technology companies Ciena, Alcatel, World Wide Packets, Packet Engines, Itron and American Sign.
Robin attended Eastern Washington University, majoring in marketing, and Grand Canyon University where she received a full scholarship.
RESHAPING INTERNATIONAL TRADE
The program concludes with an analysis of the international aerospace market in midterm future. Panelists explore how to take into account the rise of the Chinese supply chain.
Moderator: GLENN FARLEY, AVIATION SPECIALIST
Glenn Farley recently retired at the Aviation Specialist for KING-TV, NBC, Seattle.
He’s covered the aerospace industry with a focus on Boeing since 1986. He has traveled the world doing so, having visited and reported on aerospace companies and manufacturing facilities in France, Japan, China and Russia. Subsets of this beat include new aircraft and technologies, business and labor issues as well as air safety.
His additional beat areas included natural disasters, particularly the science behind earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, wildland fire and climate change.
Farley also spent considerable time covering the U.S. military, and was an embedded reporter with the U.S. Army in Iraq in 2003.
Within his industry, he provided much of the public outreach for the digital TV transition for KING-TV and worked closely with the Federal Communications Commission.
Panel Member: NELSON DONG, PARTNER | DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP
Nelson Dong is a partner in the Seattle office of Dorsey & Whitney LLP, an international law firm, and heads its National Security Law Group and is co-head of its Asia Group. He advises companies, professional societies, universities and research organizations on export controls, economic sanctions, national security and international trade and investment matters. He is an author and teacher on international technology law issues and has been an adjunct professor of international law at the Seattle University Law School and a guest lecturer at the University of Washington Law School.
Nelson was a White House Fellow and U.S. Department of Justice official in the Carter Administration responsible for international and national security matters regarding U.S. relations with the former Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China and Iran, and he also served as a federal prosecutor in Boston. He has twice been appointed to the U.S. Commerce Department’s President’s Export Council Subcommittee on Export Administration, its highest industry advisory body on U.S. export control policy. He is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the East-West Center in Honolulu, a director of the National Committee on US-China Relations in New York City and the Washington State China Relations Council in Seattle, and an active member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Committee of 100. Nelson is a graduate of Stanford University and the Yale Law School and has served as a trustee of Stanford University.
PANEL MEMBER: CAMERON JOHNSON, HEAD OF APAC STRATEGY | FAO GLOBAL
Cameron Johnson is based in Shanghai and a China market and industry expert with more than 20 years of in-country experience consulting on supply chains, manufacturing, and technology. His current and past clients include multi-national corporations in carbon fiber composites, automotive, software firms, personal protective equipment, and various high technology sectors. He is frequently sought out as an expert on U.S.-China trade and supply chain issues, and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, South China Morning Post, and various other news outlets. A published author, his latest work, “Impacts of Digitalization on Traceability,” published by Wiley, reviews the digitalization impact on carbon fiber supply chains in Asia. Publications also include articles in Caixin, China Business Review, and China US Focus. His work helping U.S. and other overseas buyers’ source personal protective equipment early in the COVID-19 pandemic has been featured on the PBS series Frontline.
Mr. Johnson is a partner at Tidalwave Solutions, a China-focused market research firm, and Head of APAC Strategy for FAO Global. He is also currently a Professor at the New York University School of Professional Studies at NYU’s Shanghai campus, teaching courses on leadership and project management. He previously served as the Asia general manager for a multinational carbon fiber company delivering a CAGR of 48% over 7 years, and held numerous management roles at Microsoft China.
Mr. Johnson has extensive access to business leaders and trade associations in China. He is a board member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham Shanghai), the largest expatriate business organization in China, and has served in volunteer roles at the Chamber for many years. He has been a multi-year delegate as part of the American Chamber of Commerce (Shanghai) “Door Knock” to Washington DC, Co-Chair of the Future Leaders Committee (FLC) from 2016-2018, and from 2019-2021 was the AmCham Shanghai Vice Chair of the Manufacturers Business Council. He is also an advisor to the National IDC Technology Innovation Alliance.
Mr. Johnson received Bachelor’s degrees in Comparative Religion and Communications from the University of Washington (2002), and a Graduate Certification in management and corporate strategy at the University of Wales (UK, 2005).
PANEL MEMBER: MICHEL MERLUZEAU, DIRECTOR, AEROSPACE & DEFENsE MARKET ANALYSIS | AIR INC
Michel Merluzeau brings twenty five years of aerospace research expertise, leading global teams providing analysis and strategic insights. He is primarily responsible for establishing and reviewing AIR strategic priorities and translating them into research services & products across commercial aerospace and defense markets.
Over the years, Michel has managed over one hundred projects ranging from complex end-user analysis, product launch strategies, capture campaigns, competitive strategy & intelligence assessments. These included analyses across civilian and military markets including special mission, ISR, tactical aircraft, transport category and business aircraft. His primary areas of expertise are aircraft systems with particular emphasis on commercial avionics, military sensors, flight control technologies and aircraft materials.
Prior to joining AIR in 2016, Michel worked for the Frost & Sullivan Aerospace & Defence group from 1994 to 2006 as an analyst and then as Director of the DC Defense practice, and from 2014 to 2016 as Vice President, Commercial Aerospace. He also served as the Managing Director of G2 Solutions, a market analysis firm based in Seattle from 2006 to 2014. Michel has been a regular contributor to Speednews, PNAA, Frost & Sullivan, Ohio Aerospace Institute, INWAC and Aviation Today conferences and is frequently mentioned in news/publications including; Aviation Today, NBC, WSJ, TVA, AFP, BBC, CNBC, Flight International, Avionics Magazine, Bloomberg News and Sky News.
AIR was previously affiliated with AirInsight Group until late 2021. From 2022, the company is a partner of Orange County based Patriot Industrial Partners.
Michel is a graduate of the University of Provence where he studied Economics, Applied Mathematics and History.
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