New CEO & CFO at Dunlop Aircraft Tyres

Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has a new chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Liberty Hall Capital Partners, the aerospace and defence industry-focused private equity firm that purchased Dunlop Aircraft Tyres in 2017, announced on 12 April that Susan McKenna has taken on the role of CEO whilst Shashank Dhawan becomes CFO.

“Since 1910, relentless innovation has been the heart of the mission for Dunlop Aircraft Tyres. We are thrilled to welcome Susan to lead Dunlop into its next phase of sustained growth,” says Rowan Taylor, Liberty Hall’s founding and managing partner. “Susan’s proven track record in developing and implementing growth strategies, overseeing new product development, pursuing innovation and ensuring operational excellence within the aerospace industry is unparalleled. We believe the combination of Susan’s operational experience and Shashank’s financial experience coupled with the balance of the existing leadership team creates a truly differentiated executive team.”

The new CEO considers Dunlop Aircraft Tyres “well positioned to capitalise on the continuing commercial aerospace recovery and strong secular growth in the military and freighter end markets.” She adds: I am excited to become part of the Dunlop Aircraft Tyres family, alongside our newly appointed CFO, Shashank Dhawan, and to partner with our whole team to continue to build the business through an exciting period of growth.”

Susan McKenna

Susan McKenna brings over three decades of experience in the aerospace and related industries. From 1994-2020, she held increasing roles of importance at United Technologies Corporation (UTC, which is now Raytheon Technologies) and its predecessors. Most recently, she held the position of executive general manager, Engine Control Services at Collins Aerospace, where she strategically led the standalone aftermarket business formed after the disposal of the original equipment business to Rolls Royce. McKenna previously had strategic and operational responsibility for UTC’s Actuation and Propeller Aftermarket Services business and held numerous positions at Goodrich, including vice president of the company’s Secondary Flight control business and various senior finance roles.

McKenna joins Dunlop from Sertec Corporation, a leading automotive manufacturer of complex lightweight body structures and electric powertrain components for major original equipment manufacturers, where she held the role of chief financial officer. She began her career at Eaton Corporation and holds a bachelor’s degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Finance from The University of Ulster. McKenna is also a fellow member of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants.

Shashank Dhawan

Shashank Dhawan brings nearly three decades of cross-sector experience in the aerospace, engineering, chemicals and manufacturing industries. Prior to joining Dunlop he was chief financial officer at Aeromet International Limited, a manufacturer and supplier of cast aluminium and magnesium parts to the global aerospace and defence industries. Dhawan also held the group finance director position at Oleo International and Savery Hydraulics, a leader in the manufacturing of energy absorption products for rail, elevators and industrial sectors as well as positions at Johnson Matthey Plc and Imperial Chemical Industries PLC. He holds a bachelor’s degree in science from Kanpur University, India, and is a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.