BSI strengthens position in aerospace certification market
8 November 2018
BSI, the business standards company, today announced the acquisition of AirCert GmbH, a specialist aerospace certification company, located in Munich, Germany. This will see AirCert become an operating subsidiary of BSI’s assurance business and will operate under the name, “AirCert – A BSI Assurance Company”.
AirCert complements BSI’s strategy to offer a greater range of products and services to the aerospace and defence sector; one of BSI’s key strategic sectors where BSI is currently one of the leading global certification providers. This partnership enhances BSI’s offering by expanding the reach of its existing DACH business (i.e. in Germany, Austria and Switzerland) – into one of the most important European Aerospace markets.
The acquisition of AirCert not only significantly broadens BSI’s footprint and scalability in the substantial DACH Aerospace market but this partnership means that BSI now joins the coveted group of specialist aerospace certification bodies that are accredited to DAkkS (the German accreditation body), complementing its existing UKAS and ANAB accreditations.
Established nine years ago, AirCert has a deep knowledge of and strong reputation in the German Aerospace industry with good relationships established by its co-founder, and highly qualified aerospace engineer, Flora von Heise-Rotenburg. AirCert clients will also benefit from additional access to BSI’s international network and proven standards, training and compliance solutions in areas such as Aerospace Quality Management (AS9100), supply chain management, occupational health and safety (ISO 45001), environmental management (ISO 14001) and cybersecurity and information resilience.
Howard Kerr, Chief Executive at BSI says: “The acquisition of AirCert supports our ongoing international growth strategy and strengthens our presence in the German aerospace sector, where BSI is already established. This partnership with AirCert forms an excellent strategic and cultural fit, combining a similar work ethic, expertise and talent combined with a passion for embedding excellence within our service solutions”.
Peter Leveringhaus, BSI Managing Director for DACH, comments: “AirCert provides us with immediate growth opportunities in the DACH market within the ever strengthening aerospace sector. Over the last nine years, AirCert has built a strong and respected reputation in the region with its aerospace technical knowledge and ability to form trusted relationships with its client base. It’s a people focused business and we anticipate that this culture integrates well within BSI and will continue to develop in the future”.
“I’m delighted that AirCert Co-Founder and Director, Flora von Heise-Rotenburg, has agreed to join our Global aerospace team, as the Aerospace Sector Head for BSI DACH, and will personally lead our combined BSI/AirCert growth agenda and cement our reputation as a leading player in the DACH market”.
Flora von Heise-Rotenburg, AirCert Co-Founder and Director and recently appointed Aerospace Sector Head for BSI DACH said: “The AirCert Board is delighted with the acquisition of AirCert GmbH by BSI. We share a desire to be in a position to provide the best range of certification products and services possible, from a position of knowledge and trust, to continually strive for excellence in both our services and opportunities for all of our clients. We are delighted to become part of BSI and share the goodwill and strong reputation both organizations have worked hard to achieve.”
Kerr concludes: “Our overall vision as we integrate AirCert’s operations, people and office into the BSI fold is to create a new BSI ‘Centre of Excellence’ for Aerospace clients for the whole of the DACH region. From this base in Munich, Germany, we envisage expanding our products and services into Austria and Switzerland. This latest acquisition reinforces our commitment to encouraging Organizational Resilience across our client base. To ensure we remain a resilient organization – one that is agile, adaptive, robust and competitive – we will continue our ambitious growth strategy by including further quality acquisitions like AirCert that will naturally integrate into our business.”
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
- ENDS-
Notes to Editors
From today, AirCert will operate under the co-branded name, AirCert – A BSI Assurance Company and will adopt the new logo below:
About BSI
BSI is the business improvement company that enables organizations to turn standards of best practice into habits of excellence. For over a century BSI has championed what good looks like and driven best practice in organizations around the world. Working with over 86,000 clients across 193 countries, it is a truly international business with skills and experience across a number of sectors including aerospace, automotive, built environment, food, and healthcare. Through its expertise in Standards Development and Knowledge Solutions, Assurance and Professional Services, BSI improves business performance to help clients grow sustainably, manage risk and ultimately be more resilient.
To learn more, please visit: www.bsigroup.com
About AirCert GmbH
AirCert is a specialist aerospace certification body, accredited to DAkkS, the German accreditation body. To learn more, please visit: http://www.aircert.org/
