MAAS Aviation, the globally recognised Dutch aircraft painting and exterior coating specialist, has appointed Patrick Fransen as general manager of its MRO division, overseeing operations in Maastricht and Kaunas.

Fransen joins MAAS from the European Support Center, where he held a senior operational role at a global helicopter service company. In his new position, he will take day-to-day responsibility for MAAS’s European MRO aircraft painting operations, leading the continued delivery of high-quality work and best-in-class turnaround times across all production sites.

“My focus will be on operational excellence, team development and customer satisfaction,” comments Fransen. “The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on management to drive both operational and financial success – a challenge that energises me.”

Explaining what attracted him to the role, Fransen says: “It was the opportunity to lead such a dynamic, international team in a growing organisation, plus MAAS’s strong reputation in the aviation industry, painting aircraft for Europe’s leading airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet.”

Mark Gidman, group COO at MAAS, adds: “Patrick has many years of experience in operational leadership roles and has a solution-driven approach. His background includes managing teams in aviation and automotive environments, and delivering complex customer-focused projects. Beyond his professional track record, Patrick is known for his hands-on, people-focused leadership style and his passion for innovation, making him a great fit for our business. We warmly welcome Patrick to the MAAS team and wish him every success in his new role.”