Acro Aircraft Seating welcomes Tom Plant as new Executive Chairman
Tom Plant, Executive Chairman, Acro Aircraft Seating
Acro Aircraft Seating is announcing industry veteran Tom Plant as its new Executive Chairman.
With a three-decade-long career and extensive global experience, Plant is expected to bring valuable expertise to the seat manufacturing company.
Acro Aircraft Seating has recently undergone a period of rapid expansion and substantial investment, such as its relocation to state-of-the-art headquarters in Crick, Northamptonshire, UK. Acro also launched its highly anticipated Series 9 platform of seats.
“Tom is an internationally respected business leader with an outstanding track record and a well-earned reputation for driving customer intimacy and for building growth and profitability in the aircraft seating sector, making him uniquely well qualified for this role,” said Acro Chief Executive Neil Cairns in a May 31 press release. “His skills and vision will add impetus to our ambitious growth plans, and he will give invaluable support to our dynamic management team.”
“We’re excited to welcome Tom to the Acro board and we look forward to the competitive advantage which his appointment will unlock for us. He shares our passion for creative excellence in engineering and his unique combination of skills, together with his global industry connections, will undoubtedly help us to strengthen partnerships, develop strategic alliances and expand our international sales presence.”
Plant’s distinguished career includes several senior positions, most recently serving as the Vice President/General Manager of the Aircraft Seating Products Group and Business Jet Segment for a major seating manufacturer. In this role, he successfully led a business unit with over 4,500 employees and generated $1.4 billion in revenue.
Throughout his professional journey, Plant has achieved noteworthy milestones, such as driving double-digit growth and demonstrating strategic leadership skills in business management, growth acceleration, profitability, and the effective management of complex technical product portfolios.
To complement his practical experience, Plant recently obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina. Prior to this, he acquired qualifications in Mechanical & Production Engineering from North Hertfordshire College.
“I am delighted to take on the role of Executive Chairman at such an exciting time for Acro and I look forward to working with that great team,” said Plant in the same release. “I believe the company has a great, agile business model and a strong strategic vision, underpinned by an unwavering commitment to excellence and the financial resources required for success in our sector. That combination will be the basis of a fantastic future for Acro and I look forward to helping the company realize its potential."
