Kitchener-Waterloo

Aeryon names Bill McHale as new CEO

Waterloo-based dronemaker Aeryon Labs has named Bill McHale as its new CEO, while company co-founder Dave Kroetsch moves to a new spot as its first-ever chief technical officer.

Co-founder Dave Kroetsch moved to newly-minted chief technical officer position

Waterloo-based dronemaker Aeryon Labs has named Bill McHale as the company's new CEO.

The change at the top was announced Tuesday, along with news that company co-founder Dave Kroetsch would move to the newly-created post of chief technology officer. 

The move comes on the heels of a recent expansion by the dronemaker last summer, where the company announced it would expand its offices and workforce, due to strong sales. 

McHale comes with decades of corporate experience at a number of mobile and telecommunication technology companies, including as CEO of Masternaut, Actix, DSET Corporation and artificial intelligence developer, Cerebus Solutions.

He also served in the U.S. Navy and is a Vietnam veteran, according to a company news release. 

The company said Tuesday that the move will allow former CEO and co-founder David Kroetsch to focus more on what it called "advanced solutions and capabilities that fuel Aeryon's continued delivery of accurate and timely aerial intelligence."

Aeryon Labs, which was founded in Waterloo in 2007, builds small unmanned aerial systems, or drones. The company says they have customers globally in several industries, including military, public safety and commercial operators.