Freedom Airlines President Mike Ferverda is heading to China to take charge of Mesa’s (MESA) new joint venture with Shenzhen Airlines and is responsible for building the new service. Meanwhile, Jorn Bates was promoted to chief operating officer of Freedom. Mesa also made appointments of Bombardier’s (BBD) Tom Bacon to vice president planning, responsible for financial planning and analysis as well as planning, scheduling and marketing. It promoted to Gary Appling to the post of vice president technical services and purchasing. Jeff Bethune was promoted to vice president financial planning and analysis responsible for overseeing operating and capital expenditure plans while Adam Wilinsky will assume the post of director of planning.
Ferveda joined Mesa in 1990 as a line pilot and has served in various management position including senior vice president of West Coast operations. He is a veteran of Eastern Airlines and the U.S. Navy. Bacon joined Mesa from his post as vice president-marketing for Bombardier’s Flexjet program. He also served as vice president-marketing and planning for American Eagle. Bates, who will focus on the airline’s Delta (DALRQ) operation joined Mesa last month as vice president east coast operations following 15 years at Delta including as general manager of operation and performance for Delta Connection. Appling joined Mesa last year as director of maintenance repair and overhaul services. He began his career his career on the ramp as a baggage handler for Delta and was a USAF reserve jet engine technician before joining Continental Airlines (CAL) as an engine mechanic and later in various MRO management roles. Bethune joined Mesa in 2003 as a senior analyst in the planning division and was promoted to director of corporate development in 2005. From 1997 to 2003 he held various divisional finance positions at America West Airlines, including the areas of information technology, maintenance and technical services, and sales and marketing. Wilensky joined Mesa in 2002 from United Airlines (UAUA) where he worked in the network planning department. Prior that he was in financial planning and analysis for Mesaba. He replaces Mickey Bowman who is returning east for personal reasons after serving the company since 1999. Bowman will continue to work part-time for Mesa.