Aeryon names Bill McHale as new CEO

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

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

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.

• Waterloo drone-maker Aeryon Labs expands to second office

McHalecomes 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 Kroetschto focus more on what it called "advanced solutions and capabilities that fuel Aeryon's continued delivery of accurate and timely aerial intelligence."

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AeryonLabs, 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.