Following a board resolution by the Kopter Group, Marco Viola has assumed the responsibility for the general management of the company as its new CEO. Viola brings to Kopter a long established career in aerospace, from a variety of positions at parent company Leonardo Helicopters, in addition to his previous role where he led the integration process of Kopter into Leonardo. During this time, he acquired in-depth knowledge of Kopter, its teams and the SH09 programme. He will now lead Kopter to successfully complete the development, certification and entry into service of the next generation SH09 single-engine helicopter, with Leonardo's support. In parallel, he will position Kopter as Leonardo Helicopters' competence centre for new light helicopters.

In 2019 Viola held the position of head of blades and composite rotor heads production centre of excellence at Leonardo's Anagni plant in Italy. From 2017 to 2019 he was the head of civil/dual use light platforms within product line management.

He joined AgustaWestland, today the helicopter division of Leonardo, in 2003 as a manager in the field of governmental customers and maintenance service until early 2008. He was then appointed head of AgustaWestland customer regional support and services centre for the Middle East. At the end of 2010, he joined AgustaWestland's production unit as head of aircraft repair and overhaul at the Frosinone plant in Italy with responsibility for the centre of excellence of several core competencies including maintenance, overhaul and retrofit of military helicopters.

This announcement follows Viola's appointment as interim CEO in September, after the resignation of former CEO Andreas Lowenstein.