USA – Textron has announced that Danny Maldonado will become President and Chief Executive Officer of Bell, effective January 4, 2026. Maldonado, currently serving as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Bell, will succeed Lisa Atherton, who has been appointed as President and CEO of Textron effective the same date.

• As Bell’s CCO, Maldonado has overseen global commercial aircraft sales, aftermarket solutions, the Bell Training Academy, and new product development, playing a pivotal role in Bell’s worldwide commercial strategy and customer engagement.

• Prior to his current position, Maldonado served as President and CEO of Textron Financial Corporation for nine years, following earlier leadership roles as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Bell.

• He joined Textron in 1990, building a more than three-decade career spanning sales, business development, customer support, and finance across multiple divisions of the group.

• The leadership transition comes as Bell advances several key programs, including the MV-75 military helicopter project and investments in its commercial rotorcraft portfolio, which includes the Bell 505, 407GXi, 429, and 525 Relentless.

• Scott Donnelly, Textron’s Chairman and CEO, praised Maldonado’s leadership record: “Danny is a proven leader with a long track record of success at Bell. He will lead Bell at an important time as we accelerate activity on the MV-75 program and continue to invest in leading commercial helicopter programs.”

About Textron Inc.
Textron is a multi-industry company known for its global portfolio of aircraft, defense, industrial, and finance businesses. Its well-known brands include Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Pipistrel, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Textron Systems, Kautex, and Jacobsen. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Textron serves customers in over 25 countries through its network of innovation and manufacturing facilities.

Source: Textron