Textron Aviation is set for a leadership transition on August 31, 2026, with longtime executive Brian Rohloff appointed president and CEO, succeeding Ron Draper, who is retiring after more than 27 years with Textron
Textron Aviation is preparing for a change at the top of its aviation business, with Brian Rohloff named president and CEO effective August 31, 2026. Rohloff will succeed Ron Draper, who is retiring after more than 27 years with Textron, including eight years leading Textron Aviation.
The leadership transition follows a structured succession process and is intended to provide continuity for the business as it enters its next phase of growth. Draper will remain with Textron Aviation through the end of 2026 as a senior advisor, supporting the transition and ensuring continuity across the organisation.
Rohloff brings nearly three decades of experience within Textron Aviation and has held leadership positions spanning customer support, sales, supply chain, quality and aircraft programmes. He most recently served as senior vice president of Global Customer Support, where he was responsible for supporting the company’s worldwide customer base and strengthening its aftermarket and service capabilities.
Over the course of his career, Rohloff has also served in senior roles including vice president of Quality and vice president of Sales. His experience includes leadership of the Citation XLS+ and Citation X programmes, giving him extensive exposure to Textron Aviation’s products, customers and operational requirements.
His broad experience across the business was a key factor behind his appointment.
Lisa Atherton, Chief Executive Officer, Textron, highlighted Rohloff’s deep understanding of Textron Aviation’s business, products, customers and workforce, noting that his experience positions him well to lead the company through its next chapter.
A Leadership transition
Rohloff’s appointment comes as Textron Aviation looks to build on a strong foundation established during Draper’s tenure.
Draper became president and CEO of Textron Aviation in 2018 and has overseen the business through significant developments in its aircraft portfolio, customer support operations and global market presence. His tenure also included a continued focus on quality, safety, innovation and customer relationships.
Reflecting on his retirement, Draper said serving as president and CEO had been the greatest honour of his career, while highlighting the employees behind the company’s achievements.
He also expressed confidence in Rohloff and the future direction of Textron Aviation, underscoring the strength of the company’s workforce and its ability to continue advancing aviation while maintaining its focus on customers and communities.
Rohloff brings extensive customer and aftermarket experience
For Textron Aviation, Rohloff’s appointment is particularly significant given his extensive experience across the company’s customer-facing and operational functions.
His most recent responsibility leading global customer support has given him direct insight into the challenges faced by operators throughout an aircraft’s lifecycle. This includes the importance of maintenance support, service responsiveness, parts availability and customer experience, areas that are increasingly critical as business aviation operators seek greater aircraft availability and operational reliability.
His previous responsibilities in quality and sales also provide experience across two areas that are central to Textron Aviation’s long-term competitiveness: maintaining product standards while responding to evolving customer requirements.
The combination of manufacturing, quality, sales, customer support and programme leadership experience gives Rohloff a broad understanding of Textron Aviation’s operations as he assumes the top role.
Building on Textron Aviation’s next chapter
Textron Aviation enters the leadership transition from a position shaped by a substantial global customer base, an established aircraft portfolio and a broad worldwide support network.
The company said its priorities will remain focused on serving customers, supporting employees, delivering on its commitments and continuing to invest in innovation and operational excellence.
Rohloff’s appointment therefore represents both a change in leadership and an emphasis on continuity. With extensive experience inside the organisation, he is expected to build on the foundations established under Draper while maintaining Textron Aviation’s focus on customer-centric innovation, operational performance, quality and trust.
As Draper transitions into his senior advisory role through the end of the year, the structured handover is designed to ensure stability while Rohloff takes the helm of one of the world’s major business aviation manufacturers.
For an organisation approaching its next century in aviation, the leadership change marks an important moment, one that combines the experience of a long-serving outgoing leader with an internally developed successor who has spent almost three decades working across the Textron Aviation business
