Jens Goennemann

Airbus Group Australia Pacific managing director Jens Goennemann has confirmed he is leaving the company at the end of June.

Dr Goennemann, who has led Airbus Group Australia Pacific and before that Australian Aerospace since January 2008, will be replaced by Major General Tony Fraser (ret’d), a company spokesperson has confirmed.

Airbus Group Australia Pacific, which was rebranded from Australian Aerospace in July 2014 and is a subsidiary of Airbus Helicopters, has 1,400 staff across 15 sites. Its activities include sales and support of Airbus Helicopters, the final assembly of 42 of the 46 MRH 90 Taipan helicopters currently being delivered to the Australian Army and Navy, and maintainance and support of a number of ADF platforms including the Tiger ARH, C-130J Hercules and AP-3C Orion.

Goennemann confirmed his departure on Monday when announcing the acquisition of Safe Air from Air New Zealand.

“As the outgoing managing director of Airbus Group Australia Pacific, this is the last item to cross off my list; to strengthen the base in New Zealand upon which our business can grow,” Goennemann said in a statement.

“And as a relatively newly-confirmed Australian citizen I am delighted to have been able to play a part in the formation of this new trans-Tasman partnership.”

Fraser is currently Head of Region – Australasia for Finmeccanica. He retired from the Army in 2011 after serving as Head Helicopter Systems Division within the Defence Material Organisation.