Will Leave Position At AIA, Assume New Duties In May

Marion C. Blakey has been appointed to become President and Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce North America and chair of the Rolls-Royce North America Board of Directors, replacing James M. Guyette who will be retiring in May.

Ms. Blakey will leave her position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) where she has served nearly eight years. At AIA, she’s been an authoritative and influential voice for the aerospace and defense industry, representing approximately 340 of the industry’s leading manufacturers. She has also played a leading role in promoting the export of civil and defense aviation products, and supported the priorities of America’s thousands of suppliers to aerospace and defense programs.

Some of Ms. Blakey’s many successes over her celebrated career include serving a five-year term as administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) where she operated the world’s largest air traffic control system and managed 44,000 employees and a $14 billion budget. From 2001 to 2002, Ms. Blakey served as chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). At NTSB, she led a number of accident investigations, improved the Board’s accident reporting process and strengthened its advocacy and outreach programs to promote safer travel throughout all modes of transportation.

“We are extremely pleased to have Ms. Blakey leading the North American region because she brings deep industry perspective and is a well-respected voice in Washington. These markets are critical to our Aerospace and Land & Sea Divisions and I am delighted to have a person of her calibre to join us in this role,” said John Rishton, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Plc.

“I couldn’t be any more pleased to have Marion take my place as the leader of Rolls-Royce North America. I’ve known her for many years, serving together on the AIA Board of Governors and other very important industry initiatives. She is a valued and trusted voice in our industry, and a wonderful friend. This experience – with AIA and previously with the FAA and NTSB – will be extremely valuable to Rolls-Royce and our 8,000 employees located in the region,” said James M. Guyette, retiring President and CEO, Rolls-Royce North America.

Born in Gadsden, Ala., Ms. Blakey received her bachelor’s degree with honors in international studies from Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia. She also attended Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies for graduate work in Middle East Affairs. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a fellow in the Royal Aeronautical Society and has received numerous honorary degrees and awards, including the National Aeronautic Association’s 2011 Henderson Trophy for making “a significant and lasting contribution to the promotion and advancement of aviation and aerospace in the United States,” and the National Aeronautic Association’s 2013 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, recognizing her “significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the United States.”

(Image from file)

FMI: www.rolls-royce.com