Despite Overall Slow-Down in General Aviation Industry, Italian Brand Expands Sales Reach

Piaggio Aero, which manufactures aircraft for business travel, announced Tuesday the addition of key sales positions within the company, doubling the North American sales force and increasing the brand's overall presence and strength within the U.S.

Tom Mahoney joins Piaggio Aero as Sales Director for the North Eastern US and Eastern Canada, from XO Jets, where he was East Coast Vice President of Sales.

Tom Mahoney

Ernie Santiago, former West Coast VP of Sales for Citation Shares, has been appointed Piaggio's Sales Director for the West Coast and Western Canada. 

Ernie Santiago

With extensive experience in sales management,marketing,business development and training, Mahoney and Santiago will join Piaggio's existing Sales Directors in playing major roles as Piaggio Aero continues its rapid worldwide growth and, looks to boost  U.S.-sales for the Italian company's widely acclaimed  P. 180 Avanti II aircraft.

"We are delighted to have both Tom and Ernie join us at Piaggio Aero," said Piaggio America - Executive Vice President, John M.Bingham. "They bring a wealth of aviation experience to us and become part of a strong sales team at a very exciting time for the company, as we see numerous growth opportunities for Piaggio Aero in North,Central and South America."

Mahoney will be based out of New Jersey and manage the Northeast US, the eastern Canadian seaboard and Ontario and Quebec, an area where he has a great deal of experience and well known throughout the aviation industry there.

Santiago, who will be operating out of Orange County, CA, will utilize his extensive aircraft sales management skills from his former positions at Gulfstream and Cessna in his new role. He will be responsible for the Western US and the Canadian Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.

Mahoney and Santiago join Piaggio Aero's existing, experienced Sales Directors, Shane Ellis and Michael Hissam, who will now both take up much more focused and defined sales management roles within Piaggio.

Shane Ellis

Based in Texas, Ellis as Piaggio's Sales Director, Central USA and Central Canada, will cover the middle American states, along with the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. 

Michael Hissam

Hissam will now be Sales Director for the South Eastern USA and The Bahamas and will continue to be based in Georgia.

FMI: www.piaggioaero.com