FLYING Magazine
Textron Aviation is shaking up its leadership ahead of its parent company’s planned restructuring of its businesses.
Textron on Monday said it appointed Brian Rohloff as president and CEO of Textron Aviation, which confirmed that Rohloff’s predecessor, Ron Draper, plans to retire. The leadership change is expected to take effect August 31, putting Rohloff in charge of marquee general aviation brands, including Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, and Lycoming.
Textron said Draper will stay on through the end of 2026 as a senior adviser. The company described the move as a “deliberate succession plan designed to ensure continuity while positioning Textron Aviation to continue advancing aviation.”
“During his tenure, Draper helped strengthen the company’s global leadership position, advance its product portfolio, invest in its people and culture, and guide the business through significant industry opportunities and challenges,” Textron Aviation said in a news release.
Draper spent more than 27 years with Textron, including eight leading Textron Aviation, which he called the “greatest honor of my career.”
“Together, we’ve navigated challenges, celebrated successes and continued advancing aviation while staying true to our commitment to our customers, communities and each other,” Draper said in remarks accompanying the announcement. “I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of this team.”
He added that he has “tremendous confidence in Brian [Rohloff] and the future of Textron Aviation.”
Rohloff has worn many hats in his nearly three decades with the company, from customer support and sales to supply chain and quality. Most recently, he was senior vice president of the company’s global customer support unit. Previously, Rohloff served as senior product director for the Cessna Citation XLS+ and Citation X platforms.
Lisa Atherton, president and CEO of Textron, said Rohloff has shown to be a “proven leader who brings a deep understanding of our business, our products, our customers and our industry.”
“Brian has demonstrated strong leadership across multiple functions and has built trusted relationships with employees, customers and suppliers,” Atherton said. “I am confident he will continue to build on Textron Aviation’s strong foundation and drive the business for growth and continued success.”
New Textron
As CEO, Rohloff figures to be a key piece of what Textron in April described as the “New Textron”—a pure-play aerospace and defense business.
Textron said it intends to spin off its industrial segment from its core business, building the New Textron around Textron Aviation—including the Cessna and Beechcraft brands—Bell, and Textron Systems. The company said it aimed to complete the split within 12 to 18 months.
The goal is to increase the core business’ revenue growth and operating margins. The company said the New Textron has expected 2026 revenue of more than $12 billion, combined with a backlog it valued at $19 billion.
Rohloff would also oversee Textron Aviation’s work to certify three next-generation Citation light jets. The manufacturer’s Citation M2 Gen3, CJ3 Gen3, and CJ4 Gen3 are all in flight testing. It aims to commercialize the next-generation M2 and CJ3 in 2027, followed by the CJ4 Gen3 in 2028. Among other upgrades, the three models come factory equipped with Garmin Autothrottle and Emergency Autoland.
Adding to momentum for the Citation family, NetJets in May took delivery of the first three Cessna Citation Ascend jets, for which it was the fleet launch customer. Also in May, German charter operator Platoon Aviation signed a fleet purchase agreement for multiple Citation Longitudes, which according to Textron will make Platoon Europe’s largest operator of the type after deliveries begin in 2027.
Textron Aviation in July said the clean-sheet, single-engine Beechcraft Denali is working through the final stages of flight testing.
The company will look to Rohloff for steady leadership as it seeks to enter the pure-play space and roll out new models.