Fred Cromer has joined Citadel Aviation as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, strengthening its leadership team as the company expands its multi-site aircraft maintenance, modification, and refurbishment platform.
Cromer will be based at Citadel Aviation’s Dallas Love Field (DAL) center of excellence and will report to Greg Colgan, Chief Executive Officer, Citadel Aviation. In addition to leading the company’s financial operations, Cromer will have enterprise responsibility for Information Technology, Human Resources and Legal.
The appointment comes as Citadel scales its operations across the United States and expands its capabilities in the maintenance, modification, refurbishment and completion of elite and VVIP aircraft. The company operates from Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Dallas Love Field, Texas, while also providing rapid aircraft-on-ground (AOG) support globally.
Cromer brings nearly three decades of aviation leadership experience spanning airlines, aircraft leasing, original equipment manufacturing, and aviation technology. His previous leadership roles include serving as Executive Vice President and CFO of Spirit Airlines, CEO and CFO of Xwing, President of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft and President and CFO of International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC).
His career has included leading companies and subsidiaries through periods of significant growth, business transformation, acquisitions, divestitures and public-market activity. This experience is expected to support Citadel’s strategy as it seeks to build a scalable operating platform and pursue long-term growth opportunities.
As a strategic partner to Colgan, Cromer will focus on aligning finance, technology, human resources and legal functions under a common operating model. His responsibilities will include supporting capital structure optimisation, targeted mergers and acquisitions and long-range financial planning.
“Fred is a well-respected industry executive who has led organizations through adversity and opportunity in nearly every corner of this industry airlines, leasing, OEM, and technology,” said Greg Colgan, Chief Executive Officer, Citadel Aviation. “His background and partnership mentality fit our needs extremely well and will further position Citadel Aviation as a go-to trusted advisor in the industry.”
Also Read – Swiss International Air Lines appoints Thoralf Wagner as head of technical division
Cromer said Citadel’s combination of technical capabilities and growth ambitions was a key attraction, adding that his immediate priority would be to work with the existing team and establish the financial and operating discipline required to support the company’s strategic objectives.
Cromer’s appointment comes at an important stage in Citadel Aviation’s evolution, with the company increasingly positioning itself as a broader aircraft services platform rather than solely a VVIP completions specialist. His experience across aviation finance, operations, M&A, and corporate transformation is expected to play a key role as Citadel expands its footprint and capabilities.
