Aengus Kelly

UCD Alumni Award in Business 2024

BComm 1994, MAcc 1995

Aengus Kelly, a chartered accountant with a degree in Commerce and a master’s in Accounting from UCD, was appointed Executive Director and CEO of AerCap, the world’s largest aviation leasing company, in 2011.

Under his leadership, the Dublin-based, New York-listed company acquired GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) in a landmark €25bn deal in 2021. This acquisition created the largest company of its kind in the world, with more than 2,000 planes, 300 helicopters, and 900 engines, and brought GECAS back into Irish ownership. AerCap’s recent financial results reflect its continued global growth and success.

Aengus’s exceptional leadership was recognised at the Aviation 100 Awards 2024, where he was named Global CEO & Industry Leader of the Year. AerCap was honoured as Global Lessor of the Year and received the Equity Deal of the Year award for the completion of the GE Secondary Public Share Offering.

Before becoming CEO, Aengus served as CEO of AerCap’s US operations (2008-2011) and was AerCap’s Group Treasurer (2005-2007). He began his career in the aviation leasing and financing sector with Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA) in 1998 and its successors AerFi in Ireland, debis AirFinance, and AerCap in Amsterdam. Prior to this, he spent three years with KPMG in Dublin.