OREANDA-NEWS.GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the commercial aircraft financing and leasing arm of GE, today announced the appointment of John Ludden as executive vice president and general counsel. He succeeds David Lloyd who retired from GECAS after a 22-year career with GE.

Ludden joined GECAS’ legal staff in Shannon, Ireland in 1996 after working in private practice in London, the U.S. and Bermuda, focused primarily on aircraft leasing and financing.  He has worked on numerous aircraft transactions, managed several acquisitions, including GECAS’ acquisition of PK AirFinance in 2000, and led legal aspects of GECAS’ aircraft sales. Since 2011, he has been based in Dubai with leadership of emerging markets activity.

Ludden graduated from the University of Liverpool with a bachelor of laws degree (LLB) and is qualified as a solicitor in both England and Ireland. He received his MSc in air transport management from Cranfield University in the U.K. and is nearing completion of a master’s in law (LLM) from the London School of Economics.

GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) is a world leader in aviation leasing and financing.  With over 45 years of experience, GECAS offers a wide range of aircraft types including narrowbodies, widebodies, regional jets/props, freighters and helicopters, plus multiple financing products and services including operating leases, purchase/leasebacks, secured debt financing, capital markets, engine leasing, airframe parts management and airport/airline consulting.  GECAS owns or services a fleet of over 2,200 aircraft (1,900 fixed wing/300 rotary wing) in operation or on order, plus provides loans collateralized on an additional 400 aircraft. GECAS serves over 270 customers in over 75 countries from a network of 24 offices.