Tom Perry, Cessna’s Super-Salesman, Honored With BBGA’s Outstanding Contribution to Aviation Award

Ashley Namihas accepts the Michael Wheatley Award on behalf of Tom Perry

Tom Perry, the face of Cessna Aircraft in Europe for three decades, is this year’s recipient of the British Business and General Aviation Association’s prestigious Michael Wheatley Award for Outstanding Services to the general aviation industry.  BBGA Chair Aoife O’Sullivan presented him with the accolade at the Association’s annual conference and AGM on March 2nd at London’s Leonardo Hotel, St Paul’s.

Tom has witnessed many peaks and troughs of our industry, she noted, but during his illustrious career he sold over 1,000 aircraft into Europe. 

‘Everyone who has ever dealt with Tom will agree that his integrity, professionalism, and remarkable knowledge made a massive contribution to Cessna’s standing as a trusted OEM on this side of the Atlantic.’’ said Ashley Namihas, Textron Aviation Regional Sales Director, accepting the award on Tom’s behalf.  From the early 1990’s to his retirement last October, Tom Perry was instrumental in helping Cessna and parent Textron Aviation become a leading manufacturer of light jets, turboprops and piston aircraft in Europe.

Tom studied aeronautical engineering at Bristol University where he was also a member of the University Air Squadron – RAF VR.  He joined Cessna/Textron Aviation in September 1992 and helped with the 2013 acquisition of Hawker Beechcraft and the formation of Textron Aviation.  After becoming the Vice President of European Sales in 2012, he built a team of 20 as the company moved away from third-party representatives towards direct sales.  Testimony to his popularity his original team remains a united sales force under Tom’s successor Duncan van de Velde.

“Tom has been a terrific champion of BBGA.  His legacy continues with his team continuing to fly our flag and we thank him for his contribution with this year’s award,’ said BBGA Chair Aoife O’Sullivan. “On a personal note Tom has been an absolute pleasure to work with over many years, a trusted and universally respected professional. We will all miss Tom’s great friendship and wicked sense of fun. A stand-out memory was finding myself in a terrifying Formula 3000 race when I thought Tom had invited me along to watch from the sidelines. He had the grace even then to overlook our very different positions on the leaderboard. Sort of.”

During his tenure Tom made many industry friends.  His departure from Textron Aviation was, according to colleagues, a long and emotional goodbye.