Atherton Replacing Snyder As Bell’s CEO

Lisa Atherton, Bell’s chief operating officer (COO), has been named the rotorcraft company’s next CEO. 

Atherton will replace current CEO Mitch Snyder on April 28. Snyder is retiring after seven years at the helm and 20 years with the company. 

Atherton previously served as president and CEO of Textron Systems from 2017 until January 2023, when she was named COO at Bell.  

Atherton had joined the defense systems business of Bell’s parent, Textron, in 2007 and moved to Bell in 2013, where she held various management positions in the company’s defense business.  

A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Atherton also served eight years at the U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command’s Directorate of Requirements.  

Textron CEO and Chairman Scott Donnelly said Atherton built strong teams at Bell and Textron and “earned the confidence” of customers. 

“Under her leadership, Bell will continue its strong execution across military and commercial programs and I am confident that she will provide the strategic vision to generate future growth for Bell,” Donnelly said.  

Atherton takes over the company as it gears up to deliver the V-280 Valor for the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program after the U.S. Government Accountability Office dismissed a protest from FLRAA rival Sikorsky of the Army’s selection of the Bell aircraft.