Mr David Then

David Then is Vice President, Engineering at Singapore Aero Engine Services Private Limited (SAESL), where he leads the development of world-class engineering capabilities to enable safe, compliant and high-performing Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) operations. He is committed to positioning engineering as a strategic enabler of operational excellence and business growth – strengthening technical and operational capability, developing high-performing teams, and building scalable systems to support the future of MRO.

With more than two decades of experience in aerospace, engineering and advanced manufacturing, David has held leadership roles at Rolls-Royce and Collins Aerospace. He has focused on turning complex technical challenges into practical solutions that strengthen operational capability and performance while creating new business opportunities. At Collins Aerospace, he established the Singapore Innovation Hub to accelerate the development, industrialisation and deployment of technology solutions across operations. At SAESL, he continued to turn ideas into measurable outcomes, helping strengthen the organisation’s operational capabilities and performance.

David holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Manchester and a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and Project Management Professional. Throughout his career, he has remained passionate about developing engineering talent, strengthening organisational capability and creating environments where people can grow, contribute and excel.
David’s leadership philosophy is grounded in the belief that engineering creates its greatest value when technical excellence is translated into operational and business performance. He believes sustainable excellence comes from empowering people, simplifying complexity, combining disciplined processes with purposeful technology, and continuously improving to challenge convention and create lasting value.