Giovanni Spitale has been appointed president of StandardAero’s business aviation segment, effective immediately. Spitale succeeds Anthony (Tony) Brancato III, who is retiring after nearly a decade in leadership roles at StandardAero and more than 40 years in aviation.

Spitale will oversee strategic growth, operational excellence and customer support for StandardAero’s business aviation division. He will be based at the company’s headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, reporting to COO Kim Ernzen.

With over 30 years of experience in engineering, operations and global leadership, Spitale joins StandardAero following a successful tenure as CEO at Davis Standard, LLC, where he led a $1bn revenue private equity-owned business through significant organic and mergers-and-acquisitions growth. He has previously held senior executive roles at The Boeing Company and leadership positions at Milacron Holdings Corp., GE Aviation, Moog and Honeywell International on various business aviation programmes.

A veteran of the United States Armed Forces, Spitale began his career in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear propulsion plant supervisor for nearly a decade. He holds an MBA in international management from Arizona State University’s WP Carey School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Thomas Edison State University. He is PMP-certified and a Six Sigma Green Belt.

“Giovanni is an exceptional leader with a proven track record of balancing intense customer focus with rigorous operational objectives,” says Kim Ernzen. “His deep expertise in the aviation and industrial sectors, combined with his ability to build high-performing, execution-focused teams, makes him the ideal leader to drive our business aviation segment toward its next phase of innovation and financial success.”

Ernzen adds: “As we welcome Giovanni, we also celebrate Tony’s leadership with StandardAero and his broader contributions to the aviation industry during his impressive career. Tony helped shepherd our business aviation segment through years of organic and inorganic growth, facility expansion and innovation in our solutions portfolio. He’s helped advance the industry through advocacy with organisations like the National Business Aviation Association and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. We are grateful for his leadership in StandardAero and in aviation in general, and we wish him the best in retirement.”

Brancato will remain with StandardAero until June to ensure a smooth transition.