French helicopter engine maker Turbomeca will increase its R&D budget by 25% this year and hire 100 more engineers as it pursues dual goals of renewing its product line by 2020 and developing hybrid powerplants. “This is an intense period of development for us,” says Chairman and CEO Olivier Andries. “R&D spending will represent 15% of revenues. [The company achieved sales of €940 million, or $1.24 billion at current exchange rates, in 2010.] This follows a 20% increase in 2011 over 2010.”

Ted Lin has been named director of marketing for Asia at New York-based Guggenheim Aviation Partners. He was VP of DVB Bank.

Air France-KLM shocked the air transport sector recently by admitting that it lost €700 million in its European network last year.

Samuel Hill has joined the Strategic Advisory Council for Bye Aerospace of Denver. He is senior VP-sales and marketing at Honda Aircraft Co.

The fact that the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business is on the fast track in the Middle East is a no-brainer by now.

Russell Ryan (see photo) has been promoted to managing director-treasury, from senior director-fleet acquisition, at Hawaiian Airlines.

Paul Chun has become managing director of KLM UK Engineering, based in Paris and Amstelveen, Netherlands. He held the same role at Epcor, where he will be succeeded by Romain Helmer, who headed KLM Engineering & Maintenance's Boeing 737 unit. Ton Dortmans was named executive VP-engineering and maintenance of KLM E&M, succeeding Peter de Swert.

Andreas Knoepfel (see photo) has joined Swiss Aviation Consulting of Huenenberg/Zug as managing director of Swiss AeroRisk Management and a board member of Swiss AeroHoldings. He was a senior aviation manager for an insurance broker.