James Blackstone Taylor
Born14 December 1921
New York, NY
Died17 January 2003 (aged 81)
Bridgeport, CT
NationalityAmerican
Other namesMr. BizJet
OccupationAviation Marketing Executive
Known forCreating business jet marketing programs for Pan Am, Cessna, and Canadair and rescuing Gates LearJet

James Blackstone Taylor was an American marketing executive known for restructuring the way corporate aircraft were marketed.[1][2]

Early life

Taylor was born on December 14, 1921, in New York. He was the son of James Blackstone Taylor, Jr, and Aileen (Sedgwick) Taylor Lippincott.[3]

Career

Taylor was appointed as the Vice President of sales for Mallard Air Service at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey in 1946. One of his initial customers was Arthur Godfrey, a well-known radio and television personality.[4]

He played a role in the success of Cessna's first business jet by introducing an all-inclusive package, which was a novel concept in the industry at that time. Each purchase of the Citation included a fully equipped aircraft, training for two pilots and two mechanics, and one year of computerized maintenance scheduling. Additionally, Taylor's direct-mail marketing campaigns were tailored to different target groups, such as chief pilots, aviation departments, and top executives, with personalized messages that were effective in generating interest and sales.[5]

Notable work

Taylor started working for Pan American World Airways(Pan Am) in 1963, serving as the Vice President of its newly created Business Jets Division. This move by Pan Am was unprecedented in the commercial airline industry and demonstrated their interest in the emerging field of business aviation.[6] The airline decided to offer the French-built Dassault Mystere 20 in the western hemisphere after carefully comparing it to the North American Sabreliner, the Lockheed JetStar, and the DeHaviland 125 another aviation first.[7]

In recognition of his achievements at Pan Am, Cessna Aircraft offered Taylor the challenging role of Vice President and General Manager of the Commercial Jet Marketing Division in 1969.[8]

After successfully introducing three new business jets the Pan Am Falcon, Cessna Citation, and the Canadair Challenger, Taylor assumed the role of President and CEO at Gates Learjet in 1985, a company that was facing financial difficulties at the time.[9]

In 1976, Taylor discovered a new marketing opportunity at Canadair, which had acquired the manufacturing rights for the LearStar 600, originally designed by Bill Lear. Taylor assembled a team of former associates to focus on sales and rebranded the aircraft as the Canadair Challenger.[10]

Taylor's leadership at LearJet enabled the company to meet its short-term objectives, and as a result, the majority ownership of the company was sold.[11] In 1990, Learjet became a division of Bombardier Aerospace based in Montreal, Canada, with plants in Wichita, KS, and Tucson, AZ.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Archives, L. A. Times (26 January 2003). "James B. Taylor III, 81; International Marketer Known as 'Mr. Biz Jet'". Los Angeles Times.
  2. ↑ "James B. Taylor, former president and CEO of Gates Learjet Corp. during the late 1980s died Friday". www.bizjournals.com.
  3. ↑ "James Taylor Obituary (2003) - Fairfield, CT - Connecticut Post". Legacy.com.
  4. ↑ Krebs, Albin (7 March 1976). "Teterboro Cites Godfrey". The New York Times.
  5. ↑ Bennett, Robert A.; Gilpin, Kenneth N. (12 September 1985). "BUSINESS PEOPLE; Gates Learjet Names Chief Operating Officer". The New York Times.
  6. ↑ Moll, Nigel. "Commentary: James B. Taylor III – 1921-2003". Aviation International News.
  7. ↑ "James B. Taylor | American Battle Monuments Commission". www.abmc.gov.
  8. ↑ Journal, William M. BulkeleyStaff Reporter of The Wall Street (31 July 1996). "Cessna Resumes Building Its 172, but Price Will Soar". Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal.
  9. ↑ Gilpin, Kenneth N.; Purdum, Todd S. (17 April 1985). "BUSINESS PEOPLE". The New York Times.
  10. ↑ "The History of Aviation Small Collections, 1913-2013 H-Small Collections". www.sc.utdallas.edu.
  11. ↑ "Wichita Wins Battle To Keep Gates Learjet Plant". AP NEWS.
  12. ↑ "Learjet Chairman Taylor Steps Down". AP NEWS.
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