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CEFA Aviation: Full throttle ahead! New VP Sales

CEFA Aviation is continuing its determined path to growth by appointing an empathetic and dynamic new VP Sales, Xavier Colognac.
By CEFA Aviation - Nov 08, 2017
Flight Data Animation strengthening Flight Safety and Pilot Training

CEFA Aviation, an independent company, is continuing its determined path to growth by appointing an empathetic and dynamic new VP Sales, Xavier Colognac. A graduate engineer, Colognac (37) also brings strong business expertise to the job and will be in charge of maintaining the unbroken loyalty of CEFA Aviation’s client base, which currently comprises over 80 airlines, while handling the market launch of an innovation in the field of airline pilot training.  

With a 17-year track record in the aeronautics sector, CEFA Aviation makes the sky safer. Its airline pilot training software recreates flights and allows post-flight analysis, thanks to 3D visualisation based on flight recorder data. Xavier Colognac, 37, was recently appointed the new VP Sales of this software developer which, although mid-sized, has its sights firmly set on growth.

“As Airbus and Boeing have confirmed this summer, the aviation industry has an urgent need for airline pilots. Over 530,000 airline pilots will have to be trained over the next 20 years,” explains Dominique Mineo, the CEO of the Alsace-based company. “With Xavier’s business and engineering acumen and his training and safety expertise, he is the ideal person to manage our development strategy. And with his approachable personality, Xavier is a very welcome addition to the CEFA team.”

A graduate of IPSA Paris in Ivry-sur-Seine, an engineering college that specializes in aeronautical and space systems, Xavier brings more than a decade of experience in the aeronautics industry to CEFA Aviation. After graduation, he spent five years as a client support engineer, then as project manager in software development and support for the avionics division of Safran Electronics & Defense before working another four years as sales and marketing manager for Europe and Russia for the same company. In 2016, Xavier was appointed sales manager for Europe at TRU Simulation + Training, a US-Canadian flight simulation company that is part of the Textron group, whose other subsidiaries include Bell Helicopter, Cessna and Beechcraft.

“I am delighted to join the CEFA Aviation team, which enjoys an outstanding reputation in the airline industry,” comments Xavier Colognac with a smile. “I look forward to being part of this venture to launch a game-changing innovation as a member of the Executive Committee, and I welcome the challenge of managing the sales of CEFA Aviation’s high-quality services going forward.”

Xavier will handle the sales of the flight data software CEFA FAS (Flight Animation System) but also manage the market launch of a breakthrough innovation, a key element in the company’s development. Specifically, his responsibilities will include

  • developing CEFA Aviation’s commercial strategy,
  • promoting the company’s growth by boosting turnover,
  • exploring international market potential,
  • and maintaining the outstanding loyalty (above 98%) of the company’s client base.

Connect with him on LinkedIn by clicking here.

>> Download the press release in English here.

>> Download the press release in French here.

>> Download the high def picture here.