He also is expected to be appointed to the board following the annual shareholder meeting on 2 May 2024.
Gentile, 59, is an experienced CEO most recently serving as president and CEO of Spirit AeroSystems from 2016 to 2023. Previously, he held a succession of leadership roles at GE across the US, France and Australia including President & Chief Operating Officer of GE Capital, President & CEO of GE Healthcare Systems, and President & CEO of GE Aviation Services. Currently, he serves as Executive Advisor to the Dean of the Barton School of Business and formerly was Chair of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) in 2023. He serves on the Board of Advisors to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and is president-elect of the Wings Club Foundation. Gentile earned a degree in economics and an MBA, both from Harvard University, and he studied international relations at the London School of Economics.
He will succeed chairman, CEO and president Nick Stanage who worked closely with the Hexcel board on his desire to retire at the end of the year. Stanage will become executive chairman of the board to ensure a smooth and successful transition until his retirement on 31 December 2024.
Commenting on Gentile’s appointment, Stanage said: “With his significant leadership and aerospace industry experience and composites knowledge, Tom is ideally suited to lead Hexcel into the future. I look forward to working closely with him in my role as Executive chairman to ensure a seamless transition.”