Nexcelle has appointed Patrice Provost as its president, with the nacelle manufacturer preparing for a change to its ownership.

An employee of shareholder Safran, Provost has served until now as Nexcelle's executive vice-president, representing the French parent group.

Provost will continue in that role, in addition to his new duties as Nexcelle’s president. He will be based at the company’s US base in Middle River, Maryland.

Nexcelle – a 50:50 joint venture between Safran and Middle River Aircraft Systems (MRAS) – was led until autumn 2018 by Kenneth Onderko, a GE Aviation employee.

MRAS is owned by GE, but in September 2018 ST Engineering disclosed that it was acquiring the company. The deal is scheduled to complete early this year.

Nexcelle manufactures the nacelles for the GE Passport engine – which powers Bombardier’s Global 7500 business jet – and for the CFM International Leap-1C, an option on the under-development Comac C919.

Source: FlightGlobal.com