Co-founder of West Star Aviation, Robert Raspberry, has announced his retirement from the Illinois-based maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider.
Raspberry, who started the company after acquiring Premier Air Center in 2002, will stay on as chairman emeritus and serve as a senior advisor for West Star’s parent and investment firm Northwest Equity Partners, the company announced.
“I find much comfort and pride in knowing that I leave West Star in extremely capable hands. Many leadership decisions have been made over the past several years to prepare for this day, including appointing Rodger Renaud as COO as president and hiring an industry veteran, Jim Rankin, as CEO,” said Raspberry.
“Their commitment to our employee and customer-centric culture is unwavering and aligns with the same principles upon which West Star was founded.”
After acquiring Premier Air Center 17 years ago, Raspberry began to grow the company in 2005, adding a second location and rebranding the operation as West Star Aviation.
Having begun with 150 employees, the company now employs 1,400 people and is in possession of four major MRO centres, along with a half-dozen more satellite facilities.