Britain’s Rolls-Royce on Tuesday said that it has appointed Marion Blakey to lead its North American business, succeeding James Guyette who is retiring in May.

Blakey, who is the president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, is expected to begin her job as president and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America in a few weeks although an actual start date hasn’t been determined, a spokesman for Rolls-Royce told Defense Daily.

Incoming President and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America Marion Blakey. Photo: AIA
Incoming President and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America Marion Blakey. Photo: AIA

Blakey has led AIA for nearly eight years, advocating on behalf of the United States aerospace and defense industry, most recently in areas such as the Federal Aviation Administration’s Next-Generation Air Transportation System, the Federal Aviation Administration’s rulemaking governing the use of unmanned aircraft systems in the national airspace, pressing Congress to avoid budget sequestration, and maintaining the Export-Import Bank.

Before joining AIA, Blakey served as administrator of the FAA for five years. Before leading FAA, Blakey led the National Transportation Safety Board as chairman.

“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,” John Rishton, chief executive of Rolls-Royce, said in a statement. “These markets are critical to our Aerospace and Land & Sea Divisions and I am delighted to have a person of her caliber to join us in this role.”

Rolls-Royce has more than 8,000 employees in North America, primarily the United States and Canada. About 31 percent of the company’s $21.4 billion in sales last year came from operations in North America, according to a fact sheet on the Rolls-Royce website. Europe accounted for 33 percent of the company’s sales.

Rolls-Royce’s Aerospace Division, which includes Civil Aerospace-its largest segment—and Defense Aerospace, accounts for about 64 percent of the company’s overall sales. The segments design, produce and service engines for commercial and military aircraft.

The rest of Rolls-Royce’s business is contained within the Land & Sea Division, which makes power and propulsion systems for its Power Systems and Marine segments, and provides systems and services for nuclear reactors within the Nuclear segment.

A spokesman for AIA said “a transition plan for finding” a successor to Blakey is underway. The effort is being led by team of AIA’s Executive Committee, which includes the CEOs and division chiefs of the nation’s leading aerospace and defense companies.

“While we’re quickly moving forward to identify Marion’s successor, AIA has outstanding and dedicated staff who play a key role in AIA’s mission of driving the aerospace industry’s agenda and priorities,” David Joyce, president and CEO of GE Aviation, which is part of General Electric [GE], and chairman of AIA, said in a statement. “And those priorities remain clear: to advocate strongly for sound policy, sensible regulation and adequate budgets that support the necessary investments in our defense, civil aviation and space sectors to ensure that America’s aerospace and defense industry remains second to none.”

Joyce praised Blakey for her leadership at AIA, adding that under her “guidance, AIA has elevated its role advocating in the best interests of the nation and the aerospace and defense industry.”