AE Industrial Partners (AEI) has hired Paul McElhinney as the firm’s newest operating partner. Mr. McElhinney has over 30 years of operations and leadership experience in the aviation finance, and jet engine and industrial gas turbine support services markets.
Most recently, from May 2014 through December 2017, Mr. McElhinney was the president and chief executive officer of GE Power Services, a $15 billion revenue business that employed 26,000 people in more than 150 countries. Earlier in his career, he was the president and chief executive officer of GE Aviation Services, the aftermarket arm of GE Aviation, and also served as general counsel and head of business development of GE Aviation. Mr. McElhinney began his GE career in 1992 after GE Capital Aviation Services acquired GPA (Guinness Peat Aviation) Group, a large aircraft-leasing firm based in Shannon, Ireland. Mr. McElhinney has an Honors Degree in Law from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
“Paul has been a leading executive in our target markets for a long time,” said David Rowe, Managing Partner of AEI. “His sector knowledge, relationships and operational know-how will have an immediate, positive impact on AEI’s portfolio companies and our firm’s overall strategic direction. We are extremely excited to welcome Paul as a member of the AEI team.”
Mr. McElhinney will join the boards of directors of two AEI portfolio companies, Belcan and Kellstrom Aerospace. Belcan, acquired by AEI in July 2015, is a Cincinnati-based provider of engineering services and technical staffing to the aerospace, industrial and government sectors (www.belcancorporation.com). Kellstrom Aerospace, acquired by AEI in April 2015, is a Miami Lakes, FL-based provider of supply chain services to OEMs, airlines, aircraft leasing companies, financial institutions, air transport operators and MROs (www.kellstromaerospace.com).
AE Industrial Partners invests in the aerospace, power generation and specialty industrial sectors with a specific focus on technical manufacturing, distribution and supply chain management, MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) and industrial service-based businesses. Typical company targets will have from $50 million to $500 million of revenue. The firm is headquartered in Boca Raton (www.aeroequity.com).
© 2018 Private Equity Professional | March 5, 2018
