WOODWARD - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Executive Vice President
Bill Lacey serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He has a distinguished track record in financial, operational, and business leadership. Prior to joining Woodward in May of 2023, Bill was vice president of finance for Amazon's Books and Kindle Content, and before that he was president and CEO of Savant's Lighting division. Bill's background also includes a successful 28-year career at General Electric Company (GE), serving as president and CEO of GE's Lighting division, and in several other senior leadership positions, including as chief financial officer of GE's Healthcare Medical Diagnostic and Wind Energy divisions. Bill previously served on the board of directors at Parker Hannifin Corporation, an aerospace and industrial firm. Passionate about supporting philanthropic organizations, he gives back to the local community by working with area colleges and hospitals. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Florida A&M University.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Chief Executive Officer
Chip Blankenship is Woodward's Chairman of the Board and CEO. He is an accomplished business leader with an extensive background in aerospace and industrial markets and operations leadership. Prior to becoming Woodward's CEO in May of 2022, Chip's leadership roles included serving as CEO of Arconic, an aerospace advanced alloys and components company, and a 24-year career at General Electric Company (GE). While at GE, he held significant leadership roles in aviation, energy, and appliances, including as CEO of GE Appliances and as vice president and general manager of Commercial Aircraft Engines. He was also general manager of GE's Aero Energy. Chip also served as the Montgomery Distinguished Professor of Practice at the University of Virginia's (UVA) School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from UVA and a bachelor's degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Chip serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Manufacturers and the Board of Governors for the Aerospace Industries Association, and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President of Strategy
- Executive Vice President, Strategy & Business Development
John Godsman is the Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. In this role, John and his team support the development and execution of Woodward's long-term strategic direction, working together with senior leadership across the enterprise. With experience in corporate strategy, aerospace/industrials, mergers and acquisitions, and licensing, John also leads Woodward's digital transformation efforts. Prior to joining Woodward in May of 2022, John served as group vice president of Business Development with General Electric Company (GE), and prior to this was the business development leader for GE Aviation. He worked for Deutsche Bank, leading the global Aerospace and Defense practice, and Credit Suisse in the U.S. and Europe Industrials and M&A Groups. John holds an MBA in finance and accounting from the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Vice President, Aerospace, Retired
Mary D. Petryszyn is former Corporate Vice President of Defense systems for Northrop Grumman Corporation. Prior to that she served as President of Northrop Grumman Defense. During her tenure at Northrop Grumman, her roles also included Sector Vice President and General Manager of the Land and Avionics C4ISR division and Vice President of Global Strategy and Mission Solutions. Petryszyn's extensive global experience in government and defense markets also includes previous leadership roles at Singer-Link, Hughes Aircraft Company, and Raytheon. Petryszyn serves on the Board of Directors for Saab Inc. and the Board of Governors of the United Service Organizations (USO). She also served on the Corporate Partnership Council for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). She holds a B.S. degree in electrical and computer engineering from Clarkson University and a master's degree in computer engineering from Syracuse University.
Job Titles:
- Global Vice President, Aerospace of PPG Industries, Inc
Mr. Daniel G. Korte has been Global Vice President, Aerospace of PPG Industries, Inc. ("PPG") since August 2018. He joined PPG in May 2018 as Global Vice President-elect of its Aerospace Products business. Prior to joining PPG, Mr. Korte served as Chief Executive Officer of LMI Aerospace, Inc. ("LMI"), now part of the Sonaca Group, from February 2014 through October 2017. Prior to joining LMI, Mr. Korte was the President of the Rolls-Royce Defense Group in Washington, DC and London, UK from 2009 through 2012. From 1985 through 2009, Mr. Korte held various senior level roles at The Boeing Company in supply chain, program management and general management.
Mr. Korte is a results-oriented leader, skilled in identifying and capitalizing on global market opportunities that drive revenue and profitable growth. His experience and strong contributions in the commercial and defense aerospace markets brings a valuable set of skills to the Board.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- CEO of Arconic Corporation
Mr. David Hess most recently served as the CEO of Arconic Corporation. Prior to Arconic, Mr. Hess served in numerous executive leadership roles during his 38-year career at United Technologies Corporation ("UTC") including Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer for UTC Aerospace, President of Pratt & Whitney, as well as President of Hamilton Sundstrand, the UTC business where he began his professional career in 1979. Mr. Hess also brings extensive boardroom experience at public and private aerospace, defense and industrial companies.
Mr. Hess brings a strong background in senior executive leadership roles in the aerospace & defense sectors. He brings deep industry experience, a proven track record, a collaborative style and a strong technical background to the board.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Electric Co
Mr. Gregg C. Sengstack was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Electric Co., Inc. ("Franklin Electric"), a manufacturer and distributor of water and fuel pumping systems, in May 2014, and Chairman in May 2015. He has been President of Franklin Electric since December 2011. Franklin Electric is a global leader in the production and marketing of systems and components for the movement of water and automotive fuels. Mr. Sengstack was President of Franklin Electric's International Water Systems and Fueling Group from 2005 to 2011, and was Chief Financial Officer for Franklin Electric from 1999 to 2005. Mr. Sengstack joined Franklin Electric in 1988 and has worked on numerous acquisitions in the U.S. and overseas during his career.
Mr. Sengstack's combination of P&L, finance, international and general management and top leadership experience, as well as his consensus-driven global leadership style and experience working with boards, allow him to provide the Board with strong insight into the Company's multi-national markets and operations.
Job Titles:
- President of CrossBorder Strategic Solutions
- Senior Vice President, Asia Business Planning and Execution
Mr. John D. Cohn has served as President of CrossBorder Strategic Solutions, LLC, a strategic advisory company for global business development and implementation, since August 2019. In June 2019, Mr. Cohn retired from Rockwell Automation, Inc. ("Rockwell Automation"), a leading provider of innovative industrial automation and information products, solutions and services, where he served as Senior Vice President, Asia Business Planning and Execution, since September 2011. In that capacity, Mr. Cohn developed and implemented regional and country level business strategies for approximately $1 billion of Rockwell Automation sales. Additionally, Mr. Cohn led business development activities, industry business plans, and other market expansion opportunities to drive revenue and profitable growth for Rockwell Automation internationally. Mr. Cohn previously served as Rockwell Automation's Senior Vice President, European Business Planning and Execution, from April 2009 to August 2011, and as Senior Vice President, Strategic Development and Communications, from 1999 to 2009.
Mr. Cohn brings to the Board expertise in global market and business development, execution of focused initiatives, and experience with leading organizations through change management, mergers and acquisitions. He also has extensive knowledge and direct experience in both the industrial and aerospace markets.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for CIRCOR International
- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Retired
Mr. Rajeev Bhalla most recently served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for CIRCOR International, a global manufacturer of flow and motion control products. Prior to CIRCOR, Mr. Bhalla served as Vice President of Finance and CFO for both Sikorsky Aircraft Company and Pratt & Whitney, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer for Lockheed Martin Corporation, as well as a Partner with Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
Mr. Bhalla brings boardroom experience and strategic perspectives in the aerospace, defense and industrial markets. His extensive financial and operational experience in the aircraft engine, rotorcraft, aero components and industrial valve markets are aligned with Woodward's end markets. As a former public company CFO, business group CFO and CPA, he brings valuable financial expertise to the Board.
Ms. Eileen P. Drake served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc., a manufacturer of aerospace and defense products, from June 2015 to July 2023. She joined Aerojet Rocketdyne in March 2015 as Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Drake was previously with United Technologies Corporation ("UTC") from November 2003 through February 2015, where she served as President of Pratt & Whitney AeroPower's auxiliary power unit and small turbojet propulsion business from January 2012 through January 2015. She also held other various senior level roles during her tenure at UTC. Prior to joining UTC, Ms. Drake held various senior level roles with Ford Motor Company between 1996 and 2003. Ms. Drake served on active duty for seven years as a U.S. Army aviator and airfield commander of Davison Army Airfield in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Ms. Drake is an accomplished, dynamic leader with extensive experience in profit and loss management, operations, quality and supply chain. She brings to the Board extensive experience in the Aerospace industry and a results-oriented mentality.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President and President of Woodward 's Industrial
- Executive Vice President and President, Industrial
Randy Hobbs, Executive Vice President and President of Woodward's Industrial segment. In this role, Randy has direct oversight and responsibility for Woodward's Industrial large and small engine systems, gas and steam turbine systems, compressor fluid systems and controls, integrated package and control solutions and industrial systems services, channels, and logistics. He is an accomplished executive with significant global leadership experience, and supply chain and lean management expertise. Before joining Woodward in December 2022, Randy spent over three decades at General Electric Company (GE), where he served in a wide range of leadership roles, including most recently as senior executive director, Rotating Parts & Compressor Airfoils. During his career, Randy repeatedly transformed and enhanced manufacturing operations and business units across several end markets including aviation and locomotives. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA from the University of Dayton.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Industrial Equipment, Retired
Tana L. Utley had a successful 36-year career at Caterpillar, where she started as a junior engineer and rose to key senior leadership positions in technology and business. Prior to her role as Vice President of Large Power Systems, a position she held for nearly a decade, she held roles of Vice President of Industrial Power Systems Division and Chief Technology Officer of the company's Product Development & Global Technology division. Her earlier roles included General Management positions in Caterpillar's components and engines businesses, leader of the Electronic & Electrical Systems business unit and Director of the Engine Design, Large Engine Products Division. She played an instrumental role in Caterpillar's diesel engine strategy, and the development of near-zero-emissions engines. Utley currently serves on the board of SPX Technologies Inc. She holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Bradley University and a master's degree in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she was a Sloan Fellow.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President and President of Woodward 's Aerospace
- Executive Vice President and President, Aerospace
Terry Voskuil, Executive Vice President and President of Woodward's Aerospace segment. In this role, Terry has direct oversight and responsibility for Woodward's fuel systems and controls, turbine combustion, hydraulics, actuation, electromechanical and electronics businesses. Prior to this, he served as president of Aircraft Turbine Systems. With more than 35 years' experience with Woodward, Terry joined the company in 1989 as a production engineer, subsequently holding a series of roles with increasing responsibility in Technology and Development Engineering working on next-generation fuel systems and a variety of innovative programs and products. Before moving to Aircraft Turbine Systems, he served as vice president and general manager of the Fuel Systems Center of Excellence, which included accountabilities for all the narrowbody products at Woodward. Terry holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Terry also serves as chair of the board for the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Executive Vice President
- Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer ( COO
Tom Cromwell serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). As COO, Tom has direct oversight of the company's business groups, as well as Woodward's Global Supply Chain and True North operational excellence groups. A proven growth leader, Tom offers significant global experience in advanced manufacturing settings and a track record of delivering superior operational results. Prior to joining Woodward in 2019, he served as the group president for Kohler Power Group, a multi-billion-dollar business unit of Kohler Co., Inc. Before joining Kohler, he held a series of operations-focused executive leadership positions across Modine Manufacturing Co. in both the U.S. and Germany. Tom holds an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Bachelor of Science in industrial technology management from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.