Former United, GE Exec Deacon To Lead Rolls Aftermarket Operations

Engine OEM Rolls-Royce has appointed former United Airlines and GE Aerospace executive Maria Deacon as its commercial aftermarket lead.

Deacon, who previously served as SVP of Technical Operations at United Airlines up to June 2025, has taken on the role of director of civil aerospace aftermarket operations at the British engine maker, effective this week.

Based in the UK, Deacon will work across the company’s headquarters in Derby and its London offices,  overseeing a business that generated £7.2 billion ($9.7 billion) in 2025 and accounts for 63% of the company’s civil aerospace revenue.

“Ensuring continuity across our facilities will be an immediate priority, alongside taking the time to get to listen to our customer and employee base and preparing the business for the next phase of MRO delivery,” Deacon told Aviation Week.

Joining at a time of expansion in its global aftermarket network, with major global MRO expansion planned in both its internal shops and joint venture network up to 2030, Deacon adds, “Our global network brings together a strong mix of Rolls-Royce-owned facilities, joint ventures, and strategic collaborations with valued partners. In 2025, we’ve welcomed new partners such as Turkish Technic and Emirates, celebrated important milestones across the network, and progressed key enhancements like the Trent 1000 durability package.”

The appointment marks the return of Deacon to an engine OEM. Before United, she spent more than 20 years at GE Aerospace, culminating in overseeing the company’s global aftermarket business up to the end of 2022.

Deacon replaces Paul Keenan, who will move to a new role in the business after more than two years leading Rolls-Royce’s civil aftermarket operations.