Aviation boss has Scott the lot
Prestwick aviation has received a massive boost with control of a major contract shifting from 4222 miles away.
Scott McLarty, a dad- of- two who lives in a Coylton farmhouse, has just been promoted to senior vice president of Spirit AeroSystems.
It means the Airbus Programs will be led from Prestwick, rather than Spirit’s HQ in Wichita, Kansas.
Scott shifted to Spirit from BAe at Prestwick in 2006 and had been involved in the Jetstream business since 1990.
And since then the 48- year- old has climbed to the top of the ladder.
The 1000 Prestwick staff are delighted at his elevation, which brings the leadership of a global programme to the town.
He now becomes the only Spirit staffer from Europe on the main Spirit executive leadership team, bringing greater kudos and security to the site.
Spirit employs 15,000 across the world and Prestwick is the centre of excellence for wing leading and trailing edges.
Scott will now report directly to Spirit president Tom Gentile, who said: “Moving our Airbus Program leadership from Wichita to Scotland is a further reflection of Spirit’s global expansion.”
Earlier this year Scott showed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon around the plant and revealed 40 new research and development jobs were being created with the help of £ 4.8m government cash.
At the time he was vice president and general manager of the UK and Malaysia business.
Leadership of the Prestwick site will be assumed by Tommy Cowan, who will be promoted to senior director and general manager, leading all UK operations, reporting directly to Scott.