Martin Aircraft Company Limited (Martin Aircraft) has appointed Peter Coker as Managing Director.
Mr Coker has been chief executive officer since April 2013 and will now fill both roles. A former senior officer in the Royal Air Force, Mr Coker has amassed over 5,000 military and civil flying hours. He is a qualified flying and weapons instructor, has substantial policy and procurement experience and has commanded both a squadron and station.
Most recently, Mr Coker was General Manager of Lockheed Martin (NZ) and Business Development Director for Asia Pacific for a Lockheed Martin Business Unit.
Mr Coker has been awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air (QCVSA) and in 1996 was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
He has served as a director on various boards and is a member of the Institute of Directors. He is also a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management, Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and Upper Freeman of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots.
Chairman of Martin Aircraft, Mr Jon Mayson, said the company was fortunate in having someone of Peter Coker’s calibre leading the commercialisation of Martin Jetpack.
“In the time Mr Coker has been with the company he has demonstrated a high degree of professionalism and in taking on the roles of CEO and Managing Director, he is also now in a better position to take Martin Aircraft forward as a listed company,” Mr Mayson said.
Martin Aircraft is a New Zealand based company which is currently developing the Martin Jetpack, the world’s first practical jetpack, with potential usage spanning search and rescue, military, recreational and commercial applications, both manned and unmanned.