Ontic tapped Jean-Christophe Gallagher as its CEO, succeeding Gareth Hall, who has served as chief executive for more than 10 years. In the coming months, Hall will transition to executive chairman and continue his work on the company’s long-term strategy. “Ontic is entering an exciting new phase of growth, and this is the right moment to add to our leadership structure to match that opportunity,” said Hall. “[Gallagher] brings deep aerospace expertise and a strong track record of leading high-performing global teams. His appointment further strengthens our senior leadership and positions Ontic to build on the momentum we have created.” Gallagher previously worked for two decades at Bombardier, most recently as executive v-p of aircraft sales and defense.
Russell Ford, CEO of StandardAero since 2013, will retire on October 1. Under his leadership, the company’s annual revenue increased from $1.6 billion in 2013 to more than $6 billion in 2025. Ford, who led StandardAero through its 2024 IPO, will continue to participate on its board of directors following his retirement. The board named lead independent director Paul McElhinney to take over as CEO later this year and become chairman at the start of 2027. McElhinney currently works for AE Industrial Partners as senior operating partner and co-head of its portfolio strategy and optimization group. His 35 years of experience in the industry include a term as president and CEO of GE Power Services and GE Aviation Services.
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