David Gossen, President of IMP Aerospace & Defence, Elected Chair of the AIAC Board

The Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) is pleased to announce the election of David Gossen, President of IMP Aerospace & Defence, as Chair of the AIAC Board of Directors. Mr. Gossen succeeds John Maris, President of Marinvent Corporation, who served as Chair of the AIAC Board over the last year.

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to serve as AIAC’s Board Chair,” said Mr. Gossen. “The global industry is fiercely competitive and changing quickly, and it is essential that the Canadian aerospace industry be innovative, focused and strategic if we are to continue growing and maintain our position of global leadership. I look forward to working with AIAC’s Board and management team to ensure the ongoing success of Canada’s aerospace industry in the years ahead.”

Jim Quick, President and CEO of AIAC, officially welcomed Mr. Gossen to his new role at AIAC’s Board Meeting on November 14. “David Gossen has long been a voice of leadership on AIAC’s board and within the industry as a whole. I am confident that, as Chair, his guidance and expertise will strengthen the association and position the industry for even greater success,” Mr. Quick said. “On behalf of all of us at the AIAC, I offer our heartfelt congratulations to David on his election as Chair and look forward to working with him during the coming year.”

The Board also acknowledged the service and contributions of AIAC’s outgoing chair, Mr. John Maris. “Mr. Maris’ leadership, insight and expertise, particularly when it comes to the critical role that small businesses play in the health and competitiveness of our industry, have been invaluable to AIAC’s growth and strategic direction over the last year,” Mr. Quick said. “I would like to personally thank John for his commitment to our association and industry and am very pleased that he will remain active on AIAC’s Board in the coming year.”

About AIAC: 

AIAC is the national association representing Canada’s aerospace manufacturing and services sector.  As the world’s fifth-largest aerospace industry, Canada’s aerospace sector contributes over $28B to the economy in GDP, exports 80% of its output, and dedicates over 20% of its activity to research and development (R&D). Aerospace is responsible for the employment of 211,000 Canadians.

For information:
Kristen VanderHoek
Director of Communications
Aerospace Industries Association of Canada
613 232-4297 x225
kvanderhoek@aiac.ca

Composition of the Board of Directors 2016-2017:

Members of the Executive

David Gossen, Chair, President, IMP Aerospace & Defence
Don Osborne, Vice Chair, President, Information Systems Group, MDA
Jim Quick, President & CEO, AIAC
John Maris, Past Chair, President, Marinvent Corporation
Keith Donaldson, Honorary Treasurer & Secretary, Vice President, Sales & Business Development, Apex Industries Inc.
Charles Bouchard, At Large, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin Canada
David Curtis, At Large, President & CEO, Viking Air Ltd
Cynthia Garneau, At Large, President, Bell Helicopter
Marc Parent, At Large, President & CEO, CAE Inc.
Mike Pley, At Large President, Pley Consulting Inc.
Pierre Pyun, At Large, Vice President, Government Affairs, Bombardier
John Saabas, At Large, President, Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
Daniel Verreault, At Large, Director for Canada, Military Systems Operation, GE-Aviation

Directors

Bryan Akerstream, Director, Business Development, KF Aerospace
James Barnes, Director, Canada – Global Marketing, Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Brad Bourne, President & CEO, Firan Technology Group Corporation
Tony Burgess, President, TDM Technical Services
Jacques Comtois, Vice President & General Manager, L-3 Communications MAS
Stewart Cramer, Chief Executive Officer, Vertex Precision Manufacturing Ltd.
Denis Giangi, President, Rolls-Royce Canada
Daniel Goldberg, President & CEO, Telesat
Michel Grenier, Vice President & General Manager, Thales Canada Avionics
Amandeep Kaler, General Manager, Avcorp Industries Inc.
Gilles Labbé, President & CEO, Héroux-Devtek Inc.
Patrick B. Mann, President, Patlon Aircraft & Industries Limited
Lee Obst Managing Director, Rockwell Collins Canada
Kim Olson, Senior Vice President, StandardAero
Michel Potvin,  President & CEO, Esterline CMC Electronics Inc.
Kevin Russell, Vice President & General Manager, Asco Aerospace Canada Ltd.
Hélène Séguinotte, General Delegate, Safran
David Schellenberg, Chief Executive Officer, PJM Investments
Romain Trapp, President Canada & COO North America, Airbus Helicopters
Phil Underwood, President & CEO, Magellan Aerospace Corporation
Tim Whittier, Director, Government Relations-Landing Gear, UTC Aerospace Systems

Biography

David Gossen, President, IMP Aerospace & Defence

David Gossen joined IMP Group Limited in 1984, immediately following his graduation from St Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree.  His career progression has taken him through several increasingly challenging positions in the fields of aircraft maintenance, avionics repair and overhaul, wire harness and aerostructures manufacturing, and precision machining.

Mr. Gossen assumed his current position as President of IMP Aerospace & Defence in 2002 at a time when the Company was just beginning to expand internationally.  Under his leadership, and building on the experience gained through providing support to several of Canada’s military aircraft fleets, the company successfully competed for a number of new and challenging international programs.  These new initiatives have contributed greatly to the dynamic growth of Aerospace & Defence, both in size and in capability.  Today, the company’s products can be found on aircraft around the globe as well as in orbit on both the International Space Station as well as a number of satellites.

In his current position, he provides leadership and direction for a broad range of operations from coast-to-coast, with over 2,400 employees involved in program management, aircraft maintenance, manufacturing, engineering, technical support, publications, and supply chain management.

Mr. Gossen is on the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) Board of Directors and also sits on the Executive Committee and serves as the Chairman of the Association. Mr. Gossen also is a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI). He has participated at the federal level in a number of ministerial Round Table Discussions on a variety of aerospace topics.  Within his own province, he has worked closely with educational institutions to develop new training programs to support the aerospace industry.  As well, he serves on the IMP Group Executive Management Committee.