As we looked over these achievements, we realized that our brand needed to evolve to tell the story of our past, but most importantly to portray our confidence in the future and our thirst for innovation. We did this as part of our rebranding, during which we examined our legacy and history and conducted interviews with owners of our jets around the world.
To my great realization, one sentiment came up time and time again: Family.
No matter who we speak to, from employees to owners, pilots, directors of maintenance, fleet operators, brokers and so many others, they define our relationship as being “like family.” This makes me profoundly happy, not only because it is a testament to the authentic heritage of our company, but also to the experience you have with us.
It is exceptional to see that a global company with over 18,000 employees can make you feel like you are part of the family. How are we able to achieve this? There is only one answer: it is in our DNA. Either you feel like family, or you don’t. There is no way to engineer such a feeling. You may think (rightfully so) that families can be less than idyllic; sometimes even dysfunctional. And yet, having spent most of my professional life in a family company, I can ensure you that even though the road is not always straight, and there is a personal layer that wouldn’t exist in non-family corporations, a company built on deeply rooted family values has tremendous advantages. Both Carole Bamford and Ernesto Bertarelli, whom we profile in this edition, would agree that the care, the love, the passion, and the proximity, as well as the precedence of relations over transactions, the importance of dialogue and depth of understanding, are all values that are hard to replicate outside of a family company.
Where heart meets mastery: this is the intersection where we operate. It is the unique driving force that made Bombardier the leading global business jet company it is today. It all started with my grandfather, Joseph-Armand Bombardier. The tenacity, ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that fueled him as he invented the snowmobile—for which he was recently inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame—lit the spirit of the company. In 1966, he entrusted it to my then 26-year-old father Laurent Beaudoin, who led it for 40 years. I am proud to have worked side by side with him from 1985, and have watched over the company since his retirement, first as CEO and now as Chairman of the Board.
As the journey continues for Bombardier with the proud purpose to enable leaders who shape the world, I want to thank you for your loyalty, for your trust and for choosing a company where the most passionate people in the industry manufacture and service the most incredible business jets in the world.
We are proud to be part of your journey. Your success has been our motivation for over eight decades, and we are only beginning.
