COMPANY PROFILE – BIRD

Company Profile

BIRD Aerosystems: Where Innovation Meets Performance

BIRD Aerosystems is a leading global provider of innovative airborne solutions that protect our customers and ensure the security of their assets. Founded in 2001, privately-owned and based in Israel, BIRD develops and markets advanced airborne missile protection systems and airborne surveillance, information and observation solutions. Leveraging deep in-house technical know-how, BIRD also provides world-class aviation logistics services to large-scale commercial and governmental customers. BIRD provides end-to-end, turnkey solutions. From operational analysis, system design, integration and installation through ground and flight testing and including system certification – BIRD is truly a one-stop-shop. BIRD has the scope and breadth of experience to contend with the most complex operational requirements and design challenges, while still providing personalized attention to each customer. Solutions from BIRD are in wide scale, long-term use by some of the world’s largest commercial, governmental, military, and transnational organizations – including NATO forces, UN Air Operations, the US Government, Airbus and other major aircraft manufacturers, and many others. During 2018, FIMI Opportunity Funds became a major shareholder when purchased 50% of BIRD’s shares. FIMI is the leading private equity firm in Israel with more than $5 billion in assets under management and has been nominated as one of the best top 5 private equity fund in the world for over 10 consecutive years. FIMI’s current portfolio includes more than 50 companies worldwide, FIMI’s strong and significant financial background, rich experience and reputation will significantly contribute to BIRD’s continuous growth in Israel and around the world.

The Board of Directors

Mr. Gillon Beck

Chairman of the Board

Mr. Ronen Factor

Member of the Board

Mr. David Dragucki

Member of the Board

Mr. Gillon Beck

Chairman of the Board

Mr. Beck is a Senior Partner at FIMI Opportunity Funds since 2003. Mr. Beck has been appointed BIRD’s Chairman of the Board in July 2018. In the recent years, Mr. Beck is taking a major role in managing FIMI’s portfolio, and serves as the Chairman/Board Member of FIMI’s portfolio companies. For more information about FIMI, visit http://www.fimi.co.il/about-fimi

Mr. Ronen Factor

Member of the Board

Mr. Factor has led BIRD Aerosystems Ltd. as Co-CEO, since co-founding the company in 2001.
As such, he oversees the company’s growth strategy and worldwide business development, as well as its marketing, commercial, finance and subsidiary management. He has been responsible for the continuous growth of the company over the past two decades, including the M&A process with FIMI Opportunity Funds in 2018.
In taking the lead of the business development his work has included establishing companies in various countries and expanding global corporate partnerships, while his background in innovation and engineering has enabled him to lead the development of BIRD’s advanced technologies and systems that are used to protect aircraft, maritime and ground borders and land-based and strategic facilities around the world.
Mr. Factor has dozens of patents registered in his name in the fields of lasers, jammers, radars and detectors. His decades of experience include working with Avionics and leading the end-to-end development and implementation of airborne EW systems.
Prior to founding BIRD, Mr. Factor was leading the developing the South African Rooivalk attack helicopter, responsible for the complete helicopter’s Human Machine Interface as well as the system integration and testing of the helicopter’s weapons, avionics, visionics and EW systems.
Mr. Factor also brings deep operational know how gained from his significant exposure to innovation within the military as a helicopter combat pilot.
Beyond is roles at BIRD, Mr. Factor also serves as Chairman of the Board and board member at several companies. He holds a bachelor of science degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from Ben-Gurion University, and served many years as an attack helicopter pilot in the Israeli Air Force.

Mr. David Dragucki

Member of the Board

Mr. Dragucki heads the company as part of a joint management team together with Mr. Ronen Factor. Mr. Dragucki is a member of BIRD’s Board of Directors since 2001. Mr. Dragucki has vast experience specializing in air-to-ground weapon systems, UAVs, avionics, and airborne EW systems. Mr. Dragucki holds a B.Sc. in electrical engineering, from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology – in Haifa, and an MA in Business Administration from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Seasoned Management

The seasoned BIRD Aerosystems management team brings broad and multidisciplinary experience from the avionics, defense, aviation, optics, and advanced computing markets. The company’s executives have held high-level positions in the Israel Air Force, Israel Ministry of Defense and many leading Israeli defense companies. Together, these experienced professionals constitute a creative, professional and highly-effective industry-leading force. BIRD Aerosystems is dedicated to helping their customers address new and complex requirements and ensure the security of their assets. more