Textron has appointed Danny Maldonado as president and CEO of its Bell segment, effective Jan. 4, 2026. Maldonado currently serves as Bell’s chief commercial officer, Textron said Monday.
Textron Chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly described Maldonado as “a proven leader with a long track record of success at Bell.”
As CCO, Maldonado oversees global commercial aircraft sales, aftermarket solutions, the Bell Training Academy and new product development.
“He will lead Bell at an important time as we accelerate activity on the MV-75 program and continue to invest in leading commercial helicopter programs,” Donnelly commented on Maldonado’s new role.
What Is the MV-75 Program?
The U.S. Army has officially designated MV-75 as the mission design series for its Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, the next-generation vertical lift platform being developed under the service branch’s aviation modernization strategy. The designation, announced in May, applies to the aircraft selected for the program, Bell’s V-280 Valor.
Built to complement the UH-60 Black Hawk fleet, the MV-75 FLRAA is designed to fly twice as far and twice as fast as current assault aircraft, giving combat aviation brigades and special operations units greater reach and survivability in contested environments. The aircraft will serve multiple missions, including assault, utility, medical evacuation and humanitarian operations, and will operate as part of the Army’s Future Vertical Lift modernization portfolio.
A major feature of the program is its modular open systems approach, which allows the Army to integrate new mission systems quickly and cost-effectively across platforms.
Bell, which is developing the MV-75 under the FLRAA program, said the aircraft’s tiltrotor configuration combines the speed and range of a turboprop with the agility of a helicopter, offering capabilities for long-range maneuvering and multi-domain operations.
What Is Maldonado’s Background at Textron and Bell?
Maldonado will take the president and CEO role at Bell from Lisa Atherton, who will step into her new role as Textron president and chief executive on Jan. 4, 2026. Atherton will succeed Donnelly, who will become executive chairman of the board.
Maldonado previously served as president and CEO of Textron Financial Corp. He held other leadership positions, including executive vice president of sales and marketing at Bell and those related to business development, customer support and finance. He joined Textron in 1990.
