08:39 GMT, January 11, 2010 STRATFORD, Conn. | Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today announced the appointment of Shane Eddy as Vice President of Sikorsky Global Helicopters, responsible for strategic leadership and general management of the growing billion-dollar business. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. ( UTX).

Eddy joins Sikorsky after a 14-year career at Textron's Bell Helicopter company where he most recently served as Senior Vice President, Customer Support and Services, and as Chief Services Officer. While at Bell, he also held the positions of Executive Director, Commercial Helicopter Programs, Director of the Completion Center and Training Academy, and Manager of Product Support Engineering. In his new position, he reports to Carey Bond, President of Sikorsky Global Helicopters and Chief Marketing Officer for Sikorsky Aircraft.

"Shane's leadership experience, from managing large operations to effectively integrating customer needs with business growth strategies, suits him well for this new role," Bond said. "Sikorsky's success in growing our commercial business over the last several years has been enabled by bold and forward-looking moves. Developing our Sikorsky Global Helicopters' business center in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, reinventing our business model, and focusing on establishing long-term customer relationships have all been keys to our progress. Under Shane's leadership, we intend to continue this growth."

Sikorsky Global Helicopters, a Sikorsky Aircraft company, produces and markets the S-76, S-92, and H-92 helicopters as well as the S-300C, S-300CBi, S-333, and S-434 light helicopters. Sikorsky Global Helicopters' subsidiaries include Keystone Helicopter Corp. in Coatesville, Pa., and Associated Aircraft Group (AAG) in Wappingers Falls, N.Y.

Eddy earned his undergraduate degree from Canadore College, Ontario, and a Master's of Business Administration degree from Concordia University in Quebec.