COPA President and CEO set to retire

Today, Doug Ronan, Chair and Ontario Regional Director, COPA Board of Directors sent the following communication to our members. Below is an excerpt of the member bulletin:

 

I am writing to inform you that Mark van Berkel’s two-year tenure is coming to an end, and he plans to retire from his position by mid-2025. 

Mark joined COPA in May 2023 with the goal of strengthening the association’s business acumen, refining its identity, and providing stability through his extensive experience as an aviation business leader. With a background as an avionics AME, 20 years as a COPA member, and experience leading his avionics manufacturing business, TrueNorth Avionics (which was sold to Satcom Direct), Mark has been a valuable asset to our association.

During his time with COPA, Mark has led a brand audit, identifying new opportunities for connecting, communicating, and advocating for our members. He’s introduced member-exclusive events like viewing tents at air shows, transformed Flight magazine into a General Aviation news hub, and oversaw the implementation of our new member management system. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing our advocacy efforts, including work on ADS-B and addressing the recent fuel shortages across Canada. 

On behalf of our members, our staff, and my fellow directors, we wish to express our deepest gratitude to Mark for his service, his dedicated leadership and his passion to advance COPA’s Mission to Preserve, Promote, and inspire General Aviation in Canada.

A search for a new President & CEO to succeed Mark has begun. The Board is seeking a long-term leader who will execute on the Board’s new strategic priorities. This transition marks a significant step in the continued growth and evolution of our organization as the stewards of a thriving General Aviation community in Canada. We are committed to ensuring a seamless leadership transition that best serve the interests of our members and the broader aviation community.

To assist with this important process, COPA has retained Boyden, a global executive search firm. John Caminiti and Collin Ritch from Boyden are working with our Board’s CEO Search Committee to guide us through this transition. 

As valued members of COPA, your input and engagement are crucial to this process. We invite you to share any recommendations for potential candidates with John and Collin directly at jcaminiti@boyden.com and critch@boyden.com. Your insights will be invaluable in helping us identify a leader who will champion the interests of our community and continue to drive our mission forward.

We will keep you informed as the process unfolds and appreciate your ongoing support and participation.