Early last Wednesday morning, McDermott + Bull CEO + Co-Founder Rod McDermott, Partner Jared Moriarty, and I met at John Wayne Airport and boarded Rod’s Cessna Citation CJ2 to make our way to one of the most important dates in the business aviation calendar, NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas.
Being in the people business, spending a day connecting with existing and new friends in the industry is what allows us to match the right people to the businesses we partner with. Events like NBAA-BACE are also a true hub of real-time industry insights that are crucial to our work.
Here are our key takeaways from this year’s show:
eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing)
One of the first things that stood out was a striking yellow eVTOL from Boeing subsidiary, Wisk, one of the leading innovators in the advanced urban air mobility sector. Over the last few years, the talk of eVTOLs has become ever more present. From the early rumblings of a few businesses trying to change the future of transportation, to the current landscape which is seeing more entrepreneurs enter the race to find new and greener ways to move people and cargo around urban areas. Their impact on the talent landscape has not gone unnoticed. Not only are these start-up ventures proving to be very important in attracting new generations of talent to the aviation industry, but their desire to innovate has enabled us to entice talent coming from a wide range of industries that McDermott + Bull operates in, including the automotive, infrastructure, and energy sectors.
Global Expansion
Not only are businesses investing in new products and ideas, but footprint expansion continues to be prevalent. Many of our clients are looking to invest in expanding and updating their current facilities – opening new locations both at home and abroad. With a team in Europe, offices across North America, and connections on a global scale, we help businesses navigate their expansion efforts, whether that be finding talent for new locations or advising them on market and cultural nuances across a wide variety of regions.
Employee Development + Well-Being
An absolute pleasure over the course of our time at NBAA-BACE was hearing from so many business leaders about the effort they are putting into the broader needs of their employees. They are looking at ways to support their people in key areas such as personal connections, health and wellness, and life experiences, all of which have a major impact on productivity, performance, happiness, and, ultimately, employee retention. Through our sister company Activate 180, we are able to support businesses on this journey, by opening up access to dedicated coaches for employees on a large scale.
Whilst the industry continues to face headwinds, the overall attitude at NBAA-BACE was optimistic as forecasts show continued growth for the sector in the years to come.
If you would like to discuss any of the above topics or explore how you can take a new approach to attracting and retaining talent for your business, please reach out to schedule a meeting with us.
About the Author
Aaron Griffin
Managing Director
agriffin@mbexec.com
310.560.9774
Aaron Griffin serves as a Managing Director at McDermott + Bull and is part of the firm’s Aviation, Aerospace, + Defense Practice, based in Los Angeles. He has over 10 years of experience in executive search, supporting clients in aviation, aerospace, and transportation with their most critical hires.
Aaron brings strong expertise leading searches on a global scale. His executive network encompasses the aerospace manufacturing supply chain, aviation airport services, and the wider transportation landscape, enabling him to provide world-class talent to his clients.
Originally from the U.K., Aaron currently resides in Los Angeles and is fluent in German. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sheffield and a Master of Arts in medical law and ethics from King’s College London. In his free time, Aaron can be found skiing, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors.