Aviation Week & Space Technology Names Finmeccanica's Pier Francesco Guarguaglini Person of the Year

NEW YORK, January 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Aviation Week & Space Technology has named Finmeccanica Chairman and CEO Pier Francesco Guarguaglini Person of the Year in its January 2 issue. It is the first such honor in the magazine's 89-year history to recognize the impact individuals have on the broader aviation, aerospace and defense community. Guarguaglini was chosen from a field of candidates from around the world by AW&ST staff editors.

The other finalists were U.S. Sen. John McCain as a close second, BAE Systems CEO Mike Turner, NASA administrator Michael Griffin, and Boeing Co. chairman and CEO W. James McNerney, Jr.

"Pier Francesco Guarguaglini is an outstanding choice to be our inaugural Person of the Year," said AW&ST editor-in-chief Anthony L. Velocci, Jr. "When he took the helm in 2002, this Italian company seemed destined to operate in the shadows of the global aerospace/defense industry's industrial juggernauts. But this unassuming 68-year-old engineer-turned-CEO transformed the company from a struggling bit player into a global market force, repeatedly defying conventional wisdom and shaking up the aerospace industry on both sides of the Atlantic."

Guarguaglini, referring to one of his most significant achievements -- inducing the Pentagon to buy his helicopter for U.S. presidential service -- said, "I hope it gets easier to break the ice in the future."

Guarguaglini will be the first to admit his work is far from over, despite the already considerable accomplishments. These include making the U.K. another "domestic" market for the Italian company by becoming the second-largest defense contractor there, and by winning competitions that at times seemed unwinnable. Along the way, he has put into motion one of the most significant consolidation drives in Europe.

"In just a few years, Pier has driven change and grew Finmeccanica into a European powerhouse," said Aviation Week Executive Vice President/Publisher Kenneth E. Gazzola. He personifies the dynamic nature of the aerospace and defense industry, and we're proud to name him our Person of the Year."

Complete coverage of the Person of the Year is available at http://www.aviationnow.com.

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