Horizon Aircraft appoints Brian Merker as CFO

Pictured here is Horizon's original concept the Cavorite X5, the newly announced X7 will have room for two more passengers. (credit: Horizon Aircraft)

Horizon Aircraft has the appointed aviation executive, Brian Merker, as chief financial officer ahead of its planned NASDAQ listing.

Merker brings more than 20 years of senior financial management experience to Horizon across the public and private sectors. Most recently, he served as chief financial officer of Skyservice Business Aviation. Prior to that, Merker was vice president of Finance at Discovery Air, a publicly traded company. He began his career in the KPMG audit practice with exposure to SEC registrants at the commencement of the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation.

The appointment comes in anticipation of Horizon’s combination with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Pono Capital Three. Upon closing, the newly combined company will trade on the NASDAQ under the symbol “HOVR.”

“We are excited to officially welcome Brian to the Horizon Aircraft management team and lead our financial operations into our next stage of growth as we make significant strides towards our public listing,” stated Horizon’s CEO Brandon Robinson.

“Brian’s advanced financial management skills in the public and private markets within the aerospace industry closely tracks with Horizon’s core business. We have successfully executed the manufacturing and design of several sub-scale prototype eVTOL aircraft and with the addition of Brian’s financial acumen, we are well-positioned for a smooth transition of Horizon as a public company and to accelerate our next phase of growth,” Robinson added.

Merker said: “I am delighted to join the exceptionally talented team of design and manufacturing professionals at Horizon Aircraft. I look forward to leveraging my previous chief financial officer responsibilities and experience in aviation to manage a sound financial operation with sharp financial oversight. My experience will help support the Company’s growth initiatives and capital deployment plans as Horizon develops its full-scale aircraft and its vision of building a better future.”