Gerard Laviec has been named president and chief executive officer of CFM International, effective September 1. He succeeds Francis P. Avanzi, who has successfully completed his three-year term in the position.
CFM International is a 50/50 joint company of Snecma (Safran Group) of France and General Electric of the United States. The company, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the world's largest manufacturer of jet engines for transport aircraft.
In his new position, Mr. Laviec is responsible for the overall results of the CFM56 engine programs and the profitability of the joint company, as well as the development of the worldwide market, negotiation of sales, and customer satisfaction. He also serves as the general delegate for Snecma (Safran Group) to the United States and Canada, representing the Snecma (Safran Group) in all aspects of the business.
Mr. Laviec, a graduate of the French Engineering University, originally joined Snecma (Safran Group) in 1963 and returned in 1965 after serving one year of military service as a flight officer with the French Air Force. From 1965 to 1976, he served in a variety of increasingly responsible positions, including test engineer on Snecma's (Safran Group) ATAR military engine program and as, first, a development engineer on the M45, a 50/50 joint venture with Rolls-Royce, and, later, the certification manager for the engine program.
From 1976 to 1978, Mr. Laviec served as Snecma's (Safran Group) CFM56 Product Support Engineering Manager before becoming the Military Engines Product Support Manager in 1979. Between 1985 and 1990, he served as Deputy General Manager of Commercial Engines, as director of the CFM International S.A. Product Support Business Operation and as the Concorde Engine Project manager. Most recently, Mr. Laviec served as the CFMI S.A. Marketing and Sales Senior Vice President and as Chairman of Shannon Engine Support.
Mr. Laviec's many accomplishments at Snecma (Safran Group) include the creation and management of the company's Product Support Business Operation, establishing Snecma/GE cooperation for the CFM56 product support organization, and the creation of Snecma's (Safran Group) new Montereau plant, which encompassed overseeing the building and administration of the facility.
Mr. Laviec is married with two children.