Bangalore, Feb 1 (IANS) Aerospace firm Cassidian of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. (EADS) Friday appointed its Indian arm chief executive Peter Gutsmiedl as the first head of its Asia-Pacific operations, keeping in view the growth potential in the region. <\/p>\n
\"As India plays a strategic role for us and continues to be our main focus in Asia, we plan to increase our industrial footprint in the sub-continent and tap the growth potential in the region,\" Cassidian global chief executive Bernhard Gerwert said in a statement here. <\/p>\n
The new appointment also reflects a realignment of the company's business in the region as a sequel to its newly integrated sales and international operations division to tap growth opportunities worldwide spanning Asia-Pacific, Americas and Europe and Middle East & Africa, he said. <\/p>\n
\"Gutsmiedl (55) has been instrumental in positioning Cassidian for a long-term partnership with India. He is the right choice for strengthening our reach in other Asian markets, while building on our established Indian base,\" Gerwert said. <\/p>\n
Besides combat aircraft opportunities, the $5.8-billion Cassidian sees potential in the areas of professional mobile radio, avionics for fighter aircraft and helicopters, radar\/electronic warfare systems and border control systems and infrastructure in the region. <\/p>\n
\"Our Indian operations will be a springboard for sustained growth in the region. Capabilities at our engineering centre in Bangalore enable us to customise products, giving a competitive edge to leverage and target other markets in the region,\" Gutsmiedl said. <\/p>\n
As regional hub, the Bangalore facility will be a part of the company's global value chain with its 60 Indian engineers engaged in a range of projects. <\/p>\n
\"We are also in consultation with the (state-run) Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) for any role in its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas project and the indigenous Airborne Early Warning & Control Radar (AEW&C) system,\" Gutsmiedl added. <\/p>\n
The company's Indian subsidiary was recently awarded the globally recognised aerospace industry quality certification EN\/AS 9100. <\/p>\n
A two decades Cassidian veteran, Gutsmiedl played a key role in the success of its programmes related to Eurofighter Typhoon, Tornado, Euro Hawk and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). <\/p>\n
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Gutsmiedl to head European aerospace firm in Asia-Pacific<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Bangalore, Feb 1 (IANS) Aerospace firm Cassidian of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. Continue reading