Bill Koch appointed Chairman of Hawthorne Global Aviation Services

01/24/2011

Bill Koch has been appointed chairman of Hawthorne Global Aviation Services. Highlights of Koch’s aviation career include the development and successful sales of premier FBO networks and aviation businesses, representing more than $400 million in completed transaction value.

Koch started his aviation career in the FBO industry in 1989 with AMR COMBS, the executive aviation affiliate of American Airlines, and subsidiary of AMR Corp., then widely recognized as the industry’s premier FBO service provider.  Koch held positions in marketing, operations, and business development and was named President in 1998. He led the business through its most significant era of growth in its 60 year history, and orchestrated the company’s sale at a premium valuation to BBA Aviation for its integration with Signature Flight Support in 2000.

Koch was instrumental in the formation of the Aviation Training Institute and development of the Professional Line Service Training Program that is now the industry standard for FBO operations. Koch served as VP Aerospace & Defense for i2 Technologies, an Internet 100 developer of supply chain software that formed a leading B2B exchange for the aviation industry in 2001.