West Palm Beach March 05, 2009
John M. Bingham Joins Piaggio America as Executive Vice-President, Marketing and Sales

West Palm Beach, FL, March 5, 2009. John M. Bingham has been named executive vice-president, marketing and sales of Piaggio America Inc., the US subsidiary of renowned Italian aircraft manufacturer, Piaggio Aero Industries, S.p.A., and which is responsible for distribution of the company’s successful Piaggio Avanti II business aircraft in the Americas.

Bingham, whose successful career spans the high end luxury automobile industry, where he served as vice- president of Rolls-Royce & Bentley Motor Cars, Inc., and most recently in General Aviation as executive vice-president, sales and marketing for Cirrus Design, with the added worldwide role of managing director of Cirrus International.

Under Bingham’s leadership at Cirrus Design, the brand’s pre-eminent position in its segment was achieved as sales grew from 270 aircraft per year to a consistent 700+ aircraft annually. In order to develop further international brand awareness and success for the company, Cirrus International was created in 2007 which, under Bingham’s direction and management, saw Cirrus’ international business grow from five percent of total company sales to 40 percent in 2008.
Tom Appleton, president & CEO of Piaggio America, Inc., welcomed Bingham, whose ability to position, market and sell high value transportation with long term success is well recognized by the industry and its customers. “John is highly regarded in the aircraft industry, and will bring his considerable strengths to Piaggio America,” he said.

Bingham is now responsible for the marketing and sales of Piaggio aircraft products in North and South America, including The Caribbean.
Alberto Galassi, chief executive officer of the Piaggio Aero Group, said, “In the P-180 Avanti II, Piaggio has a unique product requiring unique innovations in marketing and sales. John brings the talent and determination our programs demand in the important US and International markets.”

Piaggio now has achieved orders and deliveries of more than 270 Avanti aircraft worldwide. Unique to the industry, the Avanti II employs three lifting surfaces to combine pure-jet performance with turbo-prop efficiency.