Helicopter operator NHV Group has expanded its executive board with the appointment of Thomas Hütsch to COO to the executive committee.

Hütsch has extensive management experience in aerospace gained over the past three decades, having worked held the position of managing director of ADAC Lufthart Technick and CEO of ADAC HEMS Academy

“It is a tremendous pleasure to join the NHV Group, and I am honored to have the pleasure of working with the company’s leadership team to realize the highest of aspirations for the company.” said Thomas Hütsch.

He worked at Eurocopter prior to its merger with Airbus, holding the positions of vice president and service chief engineer of commercial helicopters and programme manager for the Bo105, EC135 and the BK117 family.

This appointment follows on from the appointment of a new CEO back in March. Co-founder Eric Van Hal stepped down as CEO and was replaced by Steffan Bay who had held positions at Waypoint Leasing and ERA Helicopters prior.

“Thomas (Hütsch) has built a vast track record of strategic, operational and technical accomplishments”, said Steffen Bay, NHV Group’s CEO. “He has proven to be a successful and trusted leader and brings to this position a strong reputation for developing people and inspiring teams. As we look ahead, we will continue investing in our services and fleet and we want to drive innovation in every area of our business. With Thomas on board, I am convinced we have strengthened our team to realize these ambitions.”

NHV Group has a diversified portfolio, with its bread-and-butter markets being oil and gas and search and rescue. Unlike some of its ailing counterparts in the oil and gas transport space, NHV has been securing a steady stream of new offshore oil and gas contracts in 2019.

Most recently, in May it secured a new long-term offshore contract with Premier Oil to fly daily flights to and from NHVs base in Aberdeen using a brand-new H175.