CFM International — the 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines — has named Gaël Méheust to be its new president and CEO, effective 1st February. He replaces Jean-Paul Ebanga, who had served as CFM president and CEO since February 2011 and who moves on to another position within Safran.

After achieving a Master's degree in international business from the University of Rouen, Méheust joined Hispano-Suiza (now Safran Transmission Systems) in 1984 and became sales and marketing director for nacelles and thrust reversers two years later.

In 1989, he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he served as Snecma (Safran Aircraft Engines) representative for CFM56 military applications.  He returned to France in 1992 when he was named head of Business Development at Techspace Aero in 1992. Méheust moved to Snecma in 1995 to become part of the commercial engine sales team, with responsibility for key European accounts. Three years later, he was appointed CF6-80 engine programme vice president, with sales responsibility for all large turbofan engine programmes.

In 2001, he was named Snecma's CFM representative with Airbus in Toulouse, France, followed in 2003 by his appointment as general manager of Airbus Programmes at Safran corporate level.

From September 2007 until March 2010, Méheust headed the France and UK engineering business units for Labinal (Safran Electrical and Power). In March 2010, he was named to his most recent post as executive vice president of Sales and Marketing for Safran Aircraft Engines. In this position, he played an integral role in the launch of the LEAP engine programme.