StandardAero, the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based aerospace engine maintenance giant with a major facility in Maryville announced June 2 that Russell Ford is retiring as chief executive officer after 13 years leading the company.
The company’s board of directors has appointed Paul McElhinney, currently a lead independent director, to succeed Ford as CEO effective Oct. 1. Ford will remain as executive chairman through Dec. 31 before transitioning to a standard board seat. McElhinney will assume the chairmanship Jan. 1, 2027.
The leadership change at the top of one of the world’s largest independent aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul providers lands close to home for Blount County. StandardAero’s Maryville facility, located at 1029 Ross Drive, has operated as a hub for auxiliary power unit repair and commercial engine overhaul services since 1997 — making it one of the county’s longer-tenured industrial employers.
The 154,000-square-foot campus sits on 15 acres and services roughly 900 engines and APUs annually for commercial airline and business jet operators worldwide, according to Standard Aero investor reports. In April 2024, the facility marked a significant production milestone when it completed and delivered its 12,000th APU repair.
Greg Krekeler, vice president and general manager of the Maryville facility, said at the time the 250-person team is targeting its 14,000th delivery before the end of the decade.
The facility operates within StandardAero’s Commercial Engine Services and Military, Helicopters and Energy business units, servicing equipment used on regional jets and business aircraft for customers around the globe. It also holds Rolls-Royce Authorized Maintenance Center status for several engine variants.
Ford’s departure comes after a tenure that transformed StandardAero’s financial profile. The company grew annual revenue from $1.6 billion in 2013 to more than $6 billion in 2025 and completed an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 2024 under the ticker SARO. The company now employs nearly 7,500 people across more than 50 facilities worldwide.
McElhinney brings more than three decades of aerospace experience to the role, including prior stints as president and CEO of both GE Power Services and GE Aviation Services. He has served on StandardAero’s board since 2019.
“I am honored to be appointed the next CEO of the company and look forward to building on the strong foundation Russ and the team have established,” McElhinney said in a prepared statement.
