Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) today announced the appointment of Jim Holcombe as vice president of Beechcraft Marketing. In this role, Holcombe is responsible for global marketing and branding of the company’s Beechcraft products. He assumes the role alongside 21-year HBC veteran, Ron Gunnarson, vice president of Hawker Marketing. The two seasoned professionals will lead the branding efforts of Hawker and Beechcraft products to ensure the voice of the customer is resident in how HBC competes, how it considers product development and how the company talks to the marketplace.

Holcombe brings more than 20 years of aviation experience to HBC. Most recently, he served as the executive vice president of Sales/Marketing and chief operating officer for Piaggio America. He was also the senior vice president of Marketing for Gulfstream.

Holcombe holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Mississippi and a master’s degree in management from Pepperdine University. He is also a former Marine Corps pilot and a retired Naval Commander with the Naval Reserve.

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation is a world-leading manufacturer of business, special mission and trainer aircraft – designing, marketing and supporting aviation products and services for businesses, governments and individuals worldwide. The company’s headquarters and major facilities are located in Wichita, Kan., with operations in Salina, Kan.; Little Rock, Ark.; Chester, England, U.K.; and Chihuahua, Mexico. The company leads the industry with a global network of more than 100 factory-owned and authorized service centers. For more information, visit www.hawkerbeechcraft.com.