Erickson appoints three new senior staff

Erickson photo - lifting transmission towers

Utility operator Erickson has hired three new senior senior board members.

Kevin Cochie will serve as vice president and general manager of defence and national security, Hayden Olson will serve as vice president of safety and human capital, and Chris Schuldt will take up the role of chief of staff and senior director of DNS Special Programs. All appointments are effective immediately.

Douglas Kitani, Erickson CEO, said: “We are delighted to add this exceptional calibre of talent to the Erickson leadership team. Their expertise will help us build relational capacity with key customers and strategic partners, leading to opportunities for growth and continued service to the nation.”

Cochie has worked in the helicopter industry for two decades, working in the defence acquisition market, systems engineering and government affairs. Most recently, he was the vice president of Washington operations and special programs for defence industry firm Nammo. He was also a lieutenant colonel in the US army and served as a helicopter pilot.

Olson will be returning to Erickson after having left the company to launch his own advisory firm, Olson Advisory. He was previously Erickson’s director of finance business operations and the interim VP and general manager for government aviation.

Schuldt was previously senior director of commercial sales at Evergreen Helicopters, focusing on S-64 aircrane contracts. He will be managing and assisting the executive leadership team with strategy.