Where did you start out?
I joined British Aerospace straight out of university, working in marketing analysis for commercial aircraft. It gave me a great grounding in the industry and I learned about the business from some tremendous people, many of whom are still friends and colleagues more than 20 years and a few more grey hairs later.
I have been lucky enough to work in a mix of marketing and business development roles across the UK and Canada for trade associations, Inmarsat and then Thales. I joined ARINC in 2012 to create a new satellite communications product strategy function. It was recognised as a vital part of what we could offer our customers, but was an area that was changing quickly in terms of technology, commercial approach and opportunity. ARINC was acquired by Rockwell Collins at the end of 2013, starting the next chapter in the development of our business.
What are your primary duties?
I help the new Rockwell Collins Information Management Services business, which was formed from ARINC and some existing Rockwell Collins services businesses, to decide how and where to invest in new satellite communications technologies for business aviation, air transport and government customers. In such a fast-moving area that means staying up to speed with lots of new technology and helping to develop ways in which we can translate that into solutions in many areas such as air traffic management, operational applications and passenger experience. It’s a really fascinating technology area and one where new ways to use it are always being developed.
Probably the most interesting aspect of my role today is helping identify the ways in which the new Informational Management Services team can combine our current services with the other parts of Rockwell Collins to offer better solutions for our customers. It is easy to talk about creating synergies through an acquisition, but we need to make sure that happens and show our customers and investors that bringing ARINC and Rockwell Collins together can really help them. It is still early days but some of the ideas and projects that my colleagues are coming up with have real potential – the fun bit is seeing those ideas translate into improved products and services or completely new ways to use technology in the coming months and years.
What are the most difficult aspects of your role?
Probably the hardest part is balancing what I want to do with what I have time to do. There are so many opportunities in the use of satellite communications technologies but sometimes you need to focus on doing something well rather than doing everything.
It sounds like you enjoy your job.
One of the most fun things about this sector is you get involved in working with a really good mix of people that you can constantly learn from. I sometimes talk to friends and hear about their jobs in some non-aviation areas and cannot help but think about how lucky we are in our industry because of its importance, its international nature and its constant change. It is certainly not an industry that is boring or stays the same. So it is important that we encourage more people to come into the sector in the same way that my father and uncle encouraged me. I have never regretted it for a minute. Our lifeblood is new talent across all areas – engineering, business operations and commercial. If you get the chance to help someone join our industry or help someone settle into the industry, please grab the opportunity to help them.
Source: Flight International
