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AOPA Names New President and CEO

Darren Pleasance, described as 'a pilot's pilot with a genuine passion for flying,' takes the controls January 1.

Darren Pleasance has been named Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's new president and CEO. He begins the new position January 1, 2025. [Courtesy: AOPA]
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Key Takeaways:

  • Darren Pleasance has been appointed the new President and CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), taking over from Mark Baker starting January 1.
  • Pleasance is a highly experienced aviator, logging over 8,000 hours across 50 different aircraft types, holding a CFI certificate, and previously serving on the Experimental Aircraft Association board.
  • He brings significant business leadership experience from his background at Cisco Systems, Google, and McKinsey & Company.
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The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has named longtime aviator and businessman Darren Pleasance to the position of president and CEO.

Pleasance takes the controls from outgoing AOPA CEO Mark Baker, who earlier this year announced his intention to retire. Pleasance will begin his new job on January 1.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

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