StandardAero, one of the largest independent aircraft engine maintenance, repair and overhaul providers in the world, announced a leadership transition taking effect October 1, 2026. Paul McElhinney will assume the CEO role from Russell Ford, who will retire after leading StandardAero through a period of significant growth and its 2024 initial public offering.
StandardAero operates MRO facilities across North America, Europe, and Australia, specializing in maintenance for a range of commercial and military turboprop and turbofan engines. The company completed its Nasdaq IPO in late 2024 and has since expanded service agreements and facility capacity to meet growing demand for engine overhaul services driven by higher flight cycles and aging narrowbody fleets.
Ford joined StandardAero in 2015 and oversaw the company's growth through several acquisitions and new engine service authorization agreements with major original equipment manufacturers. During his tenure, StandardAero expanded its capabilities to cover CFM56, PW150A, AE1107, and other widely deployed engine families.
The leadership change comes at a time when MRO demand across the commercial aviation sector remains strong. Supply chain constraints on new aircraft deliveries have extended the average age of operating fleets, increasing the shop visit intervals and workscope of older engines. MRO providers with broad authorization portfolios and available shop capacity are positioned to benefit from this elevated demand environment.
Source: Aviation Week -- https://aviationweek.com/mro/supply-chain/mro-rolling-daily-updates-june-2026