Rotorcraft Report: Heard in the Hallways: Bell Builds a New Management Team

President and CEO Dick Millman continues to recast the management team at Bell Helicopter.

He stunned us in March by hiring 32-year Sikorsky Aircraft veteran and long-time tilt-rotor critic Nick Lappos to head Bell’s XworX R&D shop.

Now he’s hired a top communications executive from Boeing’s Rotorcraft Div. Joseph LaMarca managed strategic communications during Boeing’s fight with Sikorsky and the Lockheed-led AW101 team (which includes Bell) over the contentious U.S. Air Force Combat Search and Rescue-X competition.

A veteran Air Force officer like Bell Communications Vice President Mike Cox (who is staying put), LaMarca will report directly to Millman and work on a strategic communications plan for Bell. That may be welcome news for many in the industry who have wondered just what Bell’s strategy is, particularly in the commercial market.

Look for Bell to announce other moves involving outsiders coming into key management positions in Forth Worth in coming weeks.