HAECO Group has made a series of senior leadership appointments across its global business, reinforcing its executive team as the company continues to expand its MRO capabilities and strengthen support for airline and OEM customers worldwide.
The leadership changes, effective from May and June 2026, span finance, engine and component services, and key operational businesses in Hong Kong, reflecting HAECO’s long-term strategy to enhance operational excellence and drive continued growth across its international MRO network.
Among the appointments, Charles de Zoete has been named CFO of HAECO, succeeding Roy Shearer, who has transitioned to the role of CFO at Swire Properties. De Zoete brings more than a decade of leadership experience within the Swire Group, having previously held senior finance positions across Asia, the United States, and the Pacific, including serving as CFO of Swire Shipping.
In another significant transition, Sandra Nieuwenhuijzen will retire as Group Director of Component and Engine Services after leading one of HAECO’s core business segments. She will be succeeded by George Edmunds, currently CEO of Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Limited (HAESL), who will assume responsibility for overseeing the group’s expanding engine and component services portfolio.
Peter Murton, CEO of HAECO Hong Kong, will move to lead HAESL as Chief Executive Officer. His appointment comes at a time when demand for engine maintenance continues to grow globally, positioning HAESL to further strengthen its role within the international aero engine MRO market.
Succeeding Murton at HAECO Hong Kong will be Tom Bellamy, currently chief transformation officer at Swire Shipping. Bellamy brings extensive leadership experience across aviation, logistics, and shipping operations, with an international career spanning Hong Kong, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, the Middle East, and South Asia.
Commenting on the appointments, HAECO Group Chief Executive Officer Richard Sell said the changes demonstrate the depth of leadership talent across both HAECO and the wider Swire Group while positioning the organisation for its next stage of expansion.
“These appointments underline the depth of talent across HAECO and the wider Swire Group. They position us well for the opportunities ahead as we continue to invest in new capabilities and capacity for our next phase of growth and transformation,” Sell said. He also acknowledged the contributions of Roy Shearer and Sandra Nieuwenhuijzen, while welcoming Charles de Zoete and Tom Bellamy to the executive leadership team and congratulating George Edmunds and Peter Murton on their new responsibilities.
The appointments come as HAECO continues investing in additional MRO capacity and technical capabilities to meet growing global demand for airframe, engine, and component maintenance services. The company operates one of the world’s largest independent MRO networks, with facilities across Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Southeast Asia, and North America, supporting commercial airlines, cargo operators, and original equipment manufacturers.
For the global MRO sector, the leadership reshuffle highlights the increasing importance of experienced operational executives in steering maintenance organisations through a period marked by rising fleet utilisation, supply chain pressures, workforce development challenges, and sustained demand for aftermarket services. As airlines continue expanding their fleets and extending aircraft service lives, MRO providers are placing greater emphasis on leadership capable of balancing operational efficiency, customer support, and long-term strategic investment.
With these appointments, HAECO aims to strengthen its executive leadership while positioning the organisation to capitalise on growing opportunities across the global aviation aftermarket and deliver enhanced value to airline and OEM customers in the years ahead.
