Former Air Force Pilot Brings Extensive Experience In Asia-Pacific Region

Bombardier Aerospace announced on Wednesday the appointment of Anders (Andy) Solem as Vice President, Sales, China, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. Mr. Solem heads the newly established China Sales region, reporting to Chet Fuller, Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Asset Management, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

“We are pleased to welcome Andy during this exciting time, as we expand our global reach and sell our optimized family of aircraft to new markets, including China,” said Mr. Fuller from the Paris Air Show. “Over the next 20 years, Bombardier is projecting that China’s fleet of commercial aircraft will grow to become the world’s third largest, following closely behind Europe and the United States.

“To meet this demand, we are expanding our international presence and increasing our proximity to our customers. Mr. Solem is ideally suited to lead our sales initiatives in the region, and we are confident that his extensive experience and leadership attributes will further position us to compete successfully,” added Mr. Fuller. Mr. Solem has extensive experience working in China and the Asia-Pacific region, and has more than 25 years of aviation experience. Before joining Bombardier, Mr. Solem was with Lockheed Martin as Corporate Vice President, New Business Initiatives. Previously, he was a senior executive with General Electric (GE), and led Global Product Management & Marketing teams.

Earlier roles which contributed to Mr. Solem’s business acumen in the Asia-Pacific region include his tenures as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Transportation China and as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Infrastructure China, based in Shanghai. He also served for over two years in GE’s Engine Services as Vice President, North Asia Region, which includes Japan, Korea and Greater China.

A former U.S. Air Force officer, Mr. Solem is fluent in Japanese and has working knowledge of Mandarin Chinese. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, he also holds a Masters of Science degree in Astronautical Engineering from the University of Tokyo.

FMI: www.bombardier.com