BBA Aviation promotes Mark Johnstone to CEO

BBA Aviation has ended a seven-month search for a new chief executive by appointing internal candidate Mark Johnstone to run the company.

Johnstone, who heads BBA's engine repair and overhaul division, will join the board on 1 April to replace Simon Pryce, who stepped down in early June after 10 years as CEO.

The aviation support services company said it had carried out a thorough review of internal and external candidates before deciding Johnstone was the right person for the job. Wayne Edmunds, interim CEO, will return to his role as a non-executive director.

Johnstone joined BBA from GKN in March 2008 as corporate development director. He has held several other jobs at the company before becoming president and chief operating officer of engine repair and overhaul in June 2016. Johnstone, a chartered accountant, will be based in Orlando, Florida.

Nigel Rudd, BBA's chairman, said: "Mark's strategic and operational experience in finance and in managing a number of the group's businesses over the last 10 years gives him a deep understanding of the company and the right skills to take on the role of group chief executive. The board feels that he is the ideal candidate to lead the group forward."