Torrance-based Robinson Helicopter chooses CEO from outside family for first time in 50-plus years

Breaking with tradition, Robinson Helicopter Company has announced the appointment of a CEO from outside the Robinson family for the first time in more than 50 years.

Starting Tuesday, Feb. 27, Kurt Robinson will step down as its president and CEO. He will be replaced by David Smith, formerly vice president of operations at the renowned aviation firm.

Smith, who joined the company in early 2023, boasts more than 20 years of experience in aviation and rotorcraft. Most notably, he held various leadership positions at Bell Flight, overseeing critical product developments and spearheading organizational growth and profitability as vice president of operations modernization. He also led TRU Simulation + Training Inc., an affiliate of Textron Aviation, specializing in pilot training solutions.

Smith’s selection marks the second leadership transition for the privately-owned company, established in 1973 by Frank Robinson from his Palos Verdes home. The initial change occurred in 2010 when Frank Robinson retired and his son, Kurt Robinson, assumed the role of president and CEO following election by the board of directors.

Robinson, who will transition to an advisory position while retaining his board of directors seat, said he began planning for his successor from the onset of his tenure.

“When I took over in 2010, one of the first things people told me was that I should be looking for my replacement,” he said in a recent interview. “It’s always been something at the back of my mind and the company’s mind. As we grow and develop, you need to find the correct time to kind of do a transition.”

The announcement strategically coincided with the start of the HAI HELI-EXPO, an annual event hosted by the Helicopter Association International to showcase advancements in vertical aviation, Robinson said.

The expo kicked off on Monday, Feb. 26, at the Anaheim Convention Center, and Robinson Helicopter Company made a notable entrance on Friday, Feb. 23, by landing the first two aircraft for the opening ceremony.

The bottom line is, the company, which employs 1,100 individuals, is here for the long run, Robinson said. It’s not just growing locally but also spreading their wings internationally, which means more high-paying jobs right here in Torrance.

Smith highlighted several key areas he will prioritize as the company’s new chief.

First, he will continue to seek opportunities for growth internationally, which can potentially benefit local investors and businesses.

“I think we can do a lot with just reinforcing the great thing we’ve built here in Torrance,” Smith said. “So that’s a big part of my focus (is) to make sure that we communicate clearly some of the growth opportunities we have with the city council and with investors in the area. So that as we grow, they grow.”

The company plans to continue expanding its workforce to meet the demand for aircraft production and parts. By the end of this year, the company anticipates surpassing 14,000 aircraft manufactured at its factory, Robinson said.

This not only translates to ongoing maintenance and service needs globally, but also underscores the importance of Torrance as the central hub for purchasing parts, he said.

“So as we grow, it’s not necessarily that we’re flying more at the airport, but we are producing components, we’re hiring just top level mechanics and CNC operators,” he said. “So there’s a lot of high value employment that we have here, and it’s really to the benefit of the South Bay and to the city of Torrance.”

Smith assured that the parts production won’t increase airport traffic, addressing concerns amid ongoing tensions between pilots and residents regarding aircraft noise.

The Torrance City Council passed measures to address the issue, including implementing landing fees, though Robinson Helicopter Company is exempted due to its private helipad base.

While the company isn’t “as directly affected” by these policies as some of the other operators at the airport, it will continue to take an active role in related discussions, Smith said.

Robinson, on the other hand, said the airport “is a gem” and expressed the company’s desire to remain at the airport.

“They’re not adding more airports, and it’s something that is a huge asset for the City of Torrance,” he said. “And I do think in some ways that it’s been neglected, and we would really like to see a renaissance of the airport going forward. In the matter that it coexists with the people that live in and around the area. I absolutely think that that can and will occur and we want to be part of that.”