- Lisa Atherton has been announced as the new CEO of Bell Helicopter
- Atherton has a significant background in the aviation industry
On April 11th, 2023, Textron announced that Lisa Atherton will be succeeding Mitch Snyder as CEO of Bell Helicopter, effective April 28th. This news comes after Snyder’s retirement after serving as CEO for over seven years and being with the company for almost two decades.
Atherton has a significant background in the aviation industry, having served as the president and CEO of Textron Systems from 2017 until January 2023, when she was named COO at Bell. She joined Textron Defense Systems in 2007 and, in 2013, transitioned to Bell and held several leadership positions within military programs, including as executive vice president of military business. Atherton graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and served for eight years at the USAF Combat Command’s Directorate of Requirements.
According to Scott Donnelly, Textron chairman, and CEO, Atherton has done an excellent job of building strong teams at Bell and Textron Systems in her 16 years with the company and has earned the confidence of their customers.
Donnelly also thanked Snyder for his leadership, noting that during his tenure, he oversaw the development of new technologies and product innovations, significant wins in Bell’s military business, and the expansion of their commercial programs.