MONTREAL - Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B) has hired auto industry executive Guy Hachey as president and chief executive officer of Bombardier Aerospace, one of the company's two main divisions.

Hachey will take over as head of the Montreal-based plane and train maker's aircraft division effective May 12, succeeding Pierre Beaudoin, who becomes president and chief executive officer of Bombardier Inc. on June 4.

Hachey, who has a commerce degree from McGill University and an MBA from Concordia, started his career 30 years ago with General Motors and after the 1999 spinoff of GM's Delphi parts division advanced to become vice-president of Delphi Corp. and head of its powertrain and European divisions.

"Guy's proven leadership skills and impressive track record internationally in the very competitive automotive industry, combined with our leaders' significant aerospace expertise, will translate into great benefit for our company," Beaudoin stated in announcing the appointment Friday.

Hachey, 52, was a vice-president of Delphi from April 2006 until this coming May 1.

He headed Delphi Powertrain Systems, which includes 30 factories and more than 30,000 employees, as well as operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Until June 4, Beaudoin and Hachey will work together to ensure a smooth transition at the world's third-largest aircraft maker.

"I am proud to join one of the world's foremost aircraft manufacturers and leading Canadian aerospace companies," Hachey said in a statement.

"I look very much forward to working with my new colleagues to ensure the continued long-term success of Bombardier Aerospace."

Bombardier Aerospace said they held an exhaustive search for a successor and considered candidates both internally and externally.

Hachey's arrival will come just a few weeks before Bombardier is expected to launch the new family of 100-to 150-seat CSeries aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow in Great Britain this July.

Hachey will also have to come up with Bombardier's response to new competition in the regional jet sector: Sukhoi of Russia and Mitsubishi Heavy of Japan.

At Delphi, Hachey's salary was about US$2.3 million in 2007 and he can expect to double it at Bombardier, where Pierre Beaudoin made $5 million last year.

Hachey's move was one of a larger reorganization announced Friday at Bombardier.

Gary Scott, head of the CSeries, takes over as president of the newly created Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, integrating two business units Regional Aircraft and the New Commercial Aircraft Program into one new unit.

Meanwhile, Steve Ridolfi, who was in charge of regional aircraft, replaces Pierre Gabriel Cote as head of Bombardier Business Aircraft.

Cote was recently appointed chief executive officer of SFK Pulp.

James Hoblyn, senior vice-president, customer experience, Bombardier Business Aircraft is appointed president, Bombardier Aircraft Services.

Bombardier closed Friday down six cents at $6.65 on trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

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