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Gurit appoints new CEO

At the beginning of April Gurit (Zurich, Switzerland) announced the appointment of Dr. Tobias Lührig, a German national, as its new chief executive officer (CEO), effective July 1, 2025. Dr. Javier Perez-Freije, chief financial officer (CFO) and current acting CEO ad interim, will continue to lead the company until Lührig officially starts, after which Perez-Freije will return to his sole role as CFO. 

With more than 20 years of leadership experience in family-owned and private equity-backed companies, Lührig has a proven track record in operational efficiency, strategic realignment and margin enhancement. His expertise in right-sizing, fostering resilience during transitions and aligning global operations makes him the ideal leader for Gurit’s ongoing realignment.

“I am excited to join Gurit at this pivotal moment and look forward to contributing to its new chapter of sustainable growth,” says Lührig.

Lührig holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and an Executive MBA from Harvard Business School. Currently serving as CEO of Bischof+Klein International SE, he combines his engineering, financial and consulting expertise with a commitment to continuous improvement and corporate culture transformation, which will help to position Gurit for future excellence and growth.

The board of directors extends its gratitude to Perez-Freije for his commitment and leadership and looks forward to his ongoing contribution as CFO. Similarly, the board wishes Lührig a strong start and great success in his new role.

 

Kaneka Aerospace welcomes first female president

Dr. Ekaterina Ryjkina has been appointed as the president of Kaneka Aerospace LLC (KAE, Benicia, Calif., U.S.), effective April 1, 2025. This marks a historic moment for Kaneka Corp., as Ryjkina becomes the first female to serve in the role of president.

Ryjkina joined Kaneka Aerospace in 2019, beginning her tenure in Belgium before transferring to the U.S. in 2021. Prior to joining Kaneka, she held multiple senior business and sales leadership roles at Henkel Corp., where she spent 17 years of her career.

In her time with Kaneka, Ryjkina has played a pivotal role in energizing the KAE team to drive results, fostering business relationships with a focus on long-term value creation and shaping a strategic plan designed to generate positive outcomes and sustainable business growth.

As president, she brings a deep understanding of KAE’s business and operations, a proven track record of leadership and a forward-looking vision that will guide Kaneka Aerospace into its next phase of growth and innovation on a global scale.

Norco welcomes new operations manager

Norco Composites & GRP (Poole, Dorset, U.K.) welcomes Mark D’Amico to Norco as its new operations manager at Unit 43.

With more than 30 years of experience in the aerospace industry, D’Amico brings a wealth of technical and leadership knowledge to the team. Starting his career as an apprentice sheet metal worker, he has worked across a wide range of roles — both hands-on and strategic — before progressing into senior leadership positions. Over the past 15 years, he has successfully managed multiple sites and large teams supporting major global civil and defense platforms.

D’Amico was drawn to Norco by the opportunity to broaden his expertise into composites manufacturing and boatbuilding, complementing his background in metallics and aerospace. His diverse experience has shaped a strong understanding of what makes a high-performing manufacturing environment — from effective process control to a culture of continuous improvement that drives both results and personal growth.

In his new role, D’Amico will focus on building a scalable operational framework that supports Norco’s continued growth. In the short term, he’ll be working closely with the production team to understand current workflows and improve day-to-day efficiency. Over time, his goal is to drive operational excellence across the business through practical, data-driven improvements tailored to Norco’s needs

D’Amico’s leadership style is grounded in open communication, accountability and empowerment. He’s a strong believer in fostering a “just culture” — one where people feel safe to speak up, own mistakes and learn from them. As he puts it: “When people are treated fairly, they’re more open, more innovative, and more committed.”

What excites D’Amico most about operations is solving complex problems and turning chaos into clarity. With a logical and process-driven mindset, he enjoys making things run better, faster and smoother — and seeing the tangible results that follow.

Outside of work, Mark is a keen golfer and enjoys collecting, building and restoring tech products.

47G names board chair, additional board member

 (Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.) has announced that Brad Wilson will serve as board chair for the organization. Wilson will replace outgoing chair, former Congressman Chris Stewart. Stewart will continue to serve on the board as the immediate past chair. In addition, 47G announced Joe Kaiser, CEO at Mercato Partners, will also serve on the board. Both Wilson and Kaiser have played prominent roles helping to advance Utah’s aerospace and defense ecosystem throughout their distinguished careers.

A highly respected business leader and former elected official, Wilson served in the Utah Legislature for 12 years, including as speaker of the house from 2019-2023. With a degree in business from Weber State University, he started his career in finance and later became a successful real estate developer. In the legislature, Wilson championed policies that contributed to Utah’s economy and business-friendly climate. In February 2025, Wilson was named CEO of the organizing committee for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

“47G has become a major partner in shaping the preparation and advancement of the state’s Olympic efforts. Amazingly, our industry is rallying behind athletes to help provide aerodynamics research and training, fabrication for athletic hardware and supplying advanced materials for events,” says Aaron Starks, 47G president and CEO. “Brad was an advocate of 47G in his former role as speaker of the house and is committed to helping the organization fulfill its mission in partnership with our companies.”

“I have worked to improve Utahns’ quality of life through policies that create jobs and support a robust economy. I am honored to serve as 47G’s board chair given the critical role they play in shaping our economy and their leadership in preparing for the 2034 Winter Olympic Games,” adds Wilson. “I have served on several boards and committees throughout my career but I believe this is a singular opportunity to help shape the future of this great state in deeply meaningful ways.”

In addition to Wilson’s appointment as chair, 47G has announced Joe Kaiser, CEO and managing director at Mercato Partners, will also serve on the board. Kaiser has worked in capital markets and as a private equity investor, managing various investment portfolios, overseeing mergers and acquisitions, and structuring multi-billion dollar finance transactions for dozens of companies. He holds an accounting degree from Saint Louis University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His appointment to the board signals the organization’s commitment to advancing strategic investments in Utah’s aerospace and defense industry.

“Throughout my career, I have had the distinct pleasure of managing investments in high-growth companies and supporting forward-thinking entrepreneurs across multiple industries,” says Kaiser. “I believe the future of Utah’s economy will be shaped more by the industries represented at 47G than any other. I am proud to be part of this momentum as we usher in a new era of advanced technology and hardware to the great state of Utah.”