Textron named Rob Scholl president and CEO of Textron Specialized Vehicles. Scholl was previously president and CEO of Textron eAviation, a role that will now be filled by Kriya Shortt, who was previously senior vice president of global parts and distribution at Textron Aviation. Both appointments will go into effect on Aug. 31.
Scholl will succeed Gunnar Kleveland in leading the Textron Specialized Vehicles portfolio of businesses that includes brands such as E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Jacobsen, Cushman and Textron Ground Support Equipment. He will report to Joerg Rautenstrauch, the president of Textron’s industrial segment.
Scholl has led Textron eAviation since its inception as a business segment in 2022, building a team that is pursuing Textron’s long-term strategy of developing a family of sustainable aircraft and overseeing the development and expansion of Pipistrel. With 17 years of experience at Textron, Scholl has served in leadership roles across the company, including senior vice president, of global sales and flight operations, vice president parts and programs and vice president of marketing at Textron Aviation. Prior to joining Textron Aviation in 2012, he served as director of business development at Textron’s CWC business and in the corporate office in sales and marketing and strategy.
Shortt has 27 years of experience with Textron Aviation, previously holding leadership positions across its sales and marketing and customer service functions. Most recently, she served as senior vice president of global parts and distribution and president of Able Aerospace and McCauley Propeller Systems. She has also served as senior vice president of customer service, senior vice president of sales and vice president of international sales. Shortt will report to Scott C. Donnelly, chairman and CEO of Textron.
“Rob and Kriya have served as outstanding leaders at our respective businesses and I am confident they will continue to drive success in their new roles,” Donnelly said. “I want to thank Gunnar for his contributions at TSV over the past four years and for his 20 years of service to our company.”
