Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced on Wednesdy changes within Product Support that enhance the customer experience and position the organization for future growth. Among the changes is the creation of a new position, vice president of Quality, which oversees quality in all phases of Product Support at Gulfstream’s 11 worldwide service centers and leads continuous improvement initiatives. Gulfstream veteran Charles Celli was appointed to the role.

“Gulfstream has always had a focus on continuous improvement,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Product Support. “These organizational changes ensure our customers continue to get the first-rate service experience they’ve come to expect from Gulfstream.”

Other changes include:

• Consolidating East Coast and international service center operations under the leadership of long-serving Gulfstream executive Barry Russell, now the vice president of East Coast Operations, Gulfstream Product Support;
• Appointing Derek Zimmerman, the former vice president of Product Support Materials, as vice president, Customer Support;
• Naming Joseph Rivera, formerly the director of International Operations, as the general manager, Savannah Service Center.

“Having Barry at the helm of our East Coast and international service center operations provides customers with a consistent service experience across our centers,” said Burns. “These changes strengthen our position as the premier services and support organization in business aviation and enhance our ability to create and deliver the world’s finest aviation experience to our customers.”

Celli, a 14-year Gulfstream employee, had been vice president of Gulfstream’s Savannah Service Center operations since February 2011. Before rejoining Gulfstream in 2011, Celli worked for General Dynamics’ Jet Aviation in Basel, Switzerland, as senior vice president, Completions Services, Europe/Middle East/Africa and Asia, and general manager of Jet Aviation Basel. He has also been vice president/general manager of Gulfstream’s Dallas facility.

Celli holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from California State University Long Beach and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame. He earned an airframe and power plant (A&P) license from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Zimmerman directs a group that comprises Material Services, Publications, Computerized Maintenance Program, Customer Relations, Field Service and Technical Operations. Zimmerman had been vice president of Product Support Materials since August 2011, overseeing parts sales, parts distribution and the materials supply chain. Prior to joining Gulfstream, he was vice president of Supply Chain and Aftermarket Development at Piper Aircraft in Vero Beach, Fla.

Zimmerman earned a bachelor’s degree in international operations from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in business administration from Auburn University.

Russell, in his 36th year with Gulfstream, oversees operations at the company’s service centers in Savannah and Brunswick, Ga., Westfield, Mass., and West Palm Beach, Fla., along with its international service centers in Luton, England, Sorocaba, Brazil, and Beijing. Prior to this, Russell was vice president of Customer Support for nearly six years. He has also been vice president/general manager of Gulfstream’s facilities in Long Beach, Calif., and Brunswick.

Russell earned a bachelor’s degree in professional aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and has master’s degrees in business administration and theology, respectively, from California Coast University and Fundamental Bible College. He also has an FAA-authorized A&P license.

Rivera had been Gulfstream’s director of International Operations since June 2012. He is now responsible for the day-to-day operations at the nearly 700,000-square-foot/65,032-square-meter Savannah Service Center, the largest facility in the world built specifically for maintaining business jets.

Rivera’s 34-year aviation career includes more than six years with Bombardier as general manager of its Tucson, Ariz., and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., service centers after working nearly nine years with Gulfstream. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in professional aeronautics and management, respectively, from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Rivera holds an FAA A&P license and is an authorized aircraft inspector.