COSTA MESA, Calif. & SHANNON, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International Aerospace Coatings Holdings LP (“International Aerospace Coatings” or “IAC”), announced today that Niall Cunningham, founder and CEO of Eirtech Aviation, has also been appointed CEO of International Aerospace Coatings, which was established earlier this year following a merger between three leading aviation service providers in the US and Europe.
International Aerospace Coatings comprises Leading Edge Aviation Services, Inc. (“Leading Edge”); Associated Painters, Inc.; and Eirtech Aviation.
Vance Street Capital, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, announced the formation of International Aerospace Coatings in August, creating one of the world’s leading providers of services to the aviation industry, including exterior and interior aircraft painting, aircraft refurbishment and graphics together with a range of specialist services. IAC provides these services to many of the world’s largest commercial airlines, in addition to OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer), VIP aircraft, aviation leasing companies and the military.
Niall Cunningham has over 20 years’ experience in the aviation sector. Having started with Trans Aer in 1993, Cunningham joined Shannon Aircraft Refinishing in 1997 as Managing Director and maintained this role during the company’s transition to a Lufthansa Technik (LHT) Company in 1999. In 2009 he led a management buyout of LHT Shannon, which saw the company rebrand under the Eirtech Aviation banner and extend into new territories including Dublin, the Czech Republic and Italy.
Brian Martin, principal at Vance Street Capital, said, “Niall is one of the most experienced CEOs in the aviation sector and has exceptional insight that is matched by his vision for the new group. This is an appointment that cements the company’s position in the market place, poising it for future growth under the stewardship of a strong leader who is well known on both sides of the Atlantic.”
International Aerospace Coatings employs over 800 people across Europe, North America and the UAE. With a combined total of 16 paint hangars and 33 paint lines, the company completes over 1,000 aircraft annually and strong growth is expected for 2015 as the company continues to expand its capabilities, locations and customer base.
Niall Cunningham said, “Aviation is in my DNA, so it is with huge excitement and enthusiasm that I take on this new role. I’m confident that all of our customers will benefit from the combined experience and expertise of the newly merged company and that our enhanced capabilities and multiple hangar locations will offer extensive levels of choice, together with cost-saving and time-efficient options.”
Whilst Leading Edge, Associated Painters and Eirtech will continue to operate under their respective brand names, Mr. Cunningham will lead the development and implementation of the group’s overall strategy and direction.
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Vance Street Capital acquired Leading Edge in 2012 and in 2013 acquired Associated Painters.
About Eirtech Aviation
- Eirtech Aviation is a specialist aviation services company providing painting, interior refinishing and graphics to international airlines, private operators and aviation leasing companies predominantly in Europe and the Middle East. Following its establishment in Shannon, Ireland, Eirtech Aviation opened its second aircraft hangar at Dublin airport in 2010, before further expanding operations into the Czech Republic and Italy as part of its ongoing expansion plan. For more information please visit: www.eirtechaviation.ie.
About Leading Edge Aviation Services, Inc./Associated Painters, Inc.
- Headquartered in Costa Mesa, CA, with operations in eight state-of-the-art facilities across the US, Leading Edge and sister company, Associated Painters, are the leading OEM, commercial, military and VIP aircraft painting companies in North America. To date, the companies have refinished nearly 10,000 aircraft and currently refinish over 500 aircraft per year across all locations. For more information please visit: http://www.leadingedgecorp.com or http://associatedpaintersinc.com.
About Vance Street Capital
- Vance Street Capital is a Los Angeles-based private equity firm that makes control investments in companies with enterprise values up to $200 million. Preferred industries include precision industrial manufacturing, aerospace & defense and medical components and devices. For over two decades, Vance Street’s partners have worked with management, family owners and other co-investors to accelerate revenue growth, improve operations and acquire strategic assets for the companies in their investment portfolio. For more information please visit: www.vancestreetcapital.com