Thompson Aero Seating has announced the appointment of Keith Anderson as its new CEO. Effective 1st August 2023, Anderson will lead the continued growth of the aircraft seating manufacturer, which is based in Portadown, Northern Ireland.
Anderson joins Thompson from IQE plc where he was Chief Operating Officer. He previously spent six successful years at Collins Aerospace in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland, where he was Business Unit Director for business-class seating, leading them to a three-fold increase in revenue with strong profitability. Anderson was instrumental in the successful on-time delivery of multiple major seating programmes and left an outstanding team as a legacy when he moved on.
The outgoing CEO, Neil Taggart, is leaving Thompson to take up a new role. Having been integral to maintaining the resilience of the business throughout the challenges aviation faced during the pandemic, Taggart has ensured that Anderson will inherit a globally aware business with a strong order book and a focused workforce.
Andy Morris, Chief Commercial Officer at Thompson Aero Seating, said of Anderson’s appointment: “Keith is a collaborative executive leader with a wealth of manufacturing and leadership experience, gained across multiple industries, and a track record for consistently transforming organisations and teams to deliver outstanding results.”
Keith Anderson added: “I am excited about the prospect of guiding Thompson Aero Seating on the next part of its journey as a leading and inspirational aircraft seating designer and manufacturer. The company has a hugely talented workforce and ambitious plans for growth and prominence, based upon outstanding products and service, and I look forward to leading the team to deliver these targets, and more.”
More big news is imminent at Thompson Aero Seating, as its £7.5 million Dynamic Test Facility (DTF) in Banbridge, County Down, is due to open this autumn.
