Mente Group has promoted Jim Lewis (pictured left) to senior MD, with his continuing contributions to the team welcomed by the group’s president and CEO Brian Proctor.

Lewis’ experience ranges from early days as a freight and charter pilot and regional airline captain, to chief pilot, flight department manager, sales demonstration pilot, sales manager, director and vice president.

Before joining Mente in 2016, Lewis’ sales and marketing tenure included a career with more than $2.5bn in aircraft transactions. He spent 16 years serving as the US West Coast director for Galaxy/Gulfstream and two and a half years at Embraer.

“Jim Lewis has expanded the brand of Mente Group in the western United States, Canada and the Pacific region and has proven himself as a valuable contributor to Mente and our clients,” said Proctor.

In addition to his new role, Lewis will continue to serve clients in 12 western states, western Canada, and the Pacific region from his base in Portland, Oregon. He is also an active member of the NBAA, Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA), the Columbia Aviation Association, the Cascade Aero Club, the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association and the Oregon Pilots Association.

An active aircraft owner with an Airline Transport Pilot licence, eight type ratings, and over 10,000 hours of flight time; he also volunteers his time and airplane for Veterans Airlift Command and Challenge Air missions.

Elsewhere in the industry, Jet East, an aviation maintenance company has hired David Grup (pictured right) as its new vice president of sales.

Grup began his aviation career with the US Armed Forces, serving as a member of the Navy Search and Rescue Team. Throughout the course of his career, he has held various roles within the maintenance field with companies like Stevens Aviation and Textron Aviation. Most recently, Grup served as the regional sales director for Constant Aviation.

Grup has a focus on aftermarket aviation sales and client management. He has significant experience in selling aftermarket upgrades for jet aircraft including avionics, interiors and jet engine overhaul maintenance. 

Stephen Maiden, president and CEO, Jet East said: “Dave possesses a team-based approach to solving problems for the betterment of the entire company. He values the importance of building meaningful relationships and puts an emphasis on customer service that is necessary in our business. His vast experience in the aviation maintenance sector of the business, with specific focus on sales and business development, will be instrumental to our future.”