Leadership Reins Handed Over To Mark Van Tine

Horst A. Bergmann, chairman and chief executive officer of Jeppesen, has retired after more than 40 years with the company. Bergmann joined Jeppesen's Germany-based affiliate, Jeppesen & Co., GmbH, in 1963 after completing business school and serving in the German Air Force as a navigator and flight operations officer. During his career with Jeppesen, Bergmann served in numerous capacities, both overseas and in the US. He was managing director of Jeppesen & Co., GmbH from 1977 to 1987 and was named president and chief executive officer of Jeppesen in 1988, at which time he and his family relocated to Denver.

Under Bergmann's (right) stout leadership, Jeppesen significantly broadened its portfolio of products and services, both through internal development and acquisitions. Year after year he has led the company to double-digit revenue growth. Bergmann has more than doubled the number of employees, and he has successfully completed ten acquisitions. In the early 1990s, Jeppesen began the transition from being a provider primarily of paper-based navigational information to the world's foremost supplier of integrated aviation information solutions, including Electronic Flight Bag applications and fully integrated flight operations management services. In addition, Bergmann's stewardship saw Jeppesen extend its expertise to new and promising markets such as marine navigation services.

Bergmann also served in numerous corporate capacities with Times Mirror, Jeppesen's previous corporate parent, and was instrumental in guiding the company smoothly through the transition from Times Mirror to being a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company. He also served as a board member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, a trade association representing more than 50 manufacturers.

"Forty years at Jeppesen has been a tremendous flight," says Bergmann. "It has been interesting and challenging. My goals have been to secure jobs, satisfy customers and meet the ever-changing challenges that come with doing business globally. I am grateful to our customers in each of the market segments we serve, our partners in industry, and the corporate parents Jeppesen has had over the years: Times Mirror, The Tribune Company and The Boeing Company. I treasure and will miss my relationships with them. More than anything, I will miss the daily interaction with the employees of Jeppesen, who number more than 1,600 worldwide. It is they who were instrumental in building this company into what it is today."

Bergmann is succeeded by Mark Van Tine (right), who began his career with Lockheed DataPlan, a leading flight planning and weather services provider, which was acquired by Jeppesen in 1989. Van Tine previously served as managing director of Jeppesen DataPlan, executive vice-president of flight information development, printing and distribution, and also as chief information officer. He received in 1980 a B.S. in Aviation from San Jose State University and in 1988 attended the Harvard School of Business Program for Management Development.

"I am both pleased and honored to step into this leadership role at Jeppesen," says Van Tine. "Following in the footsteps of such a high-caliber leader as Horst is a significant challenge, though it is made easier because Jeppesen is blessed to have such great customers and employees. Working together, the possibilities are limitless."

FMI: www.jeppesen.com