Leadership

Rich McManus, Chief Executive Officer

Rich McManus is Chief Executive Officer of AEM, Inc., where he leads the company’s strategic direction and execution of key initiatives to drive profitable growth and operational performance.

A seasoned aerospace executive with more than 35 years of experience, Rich brings a strong record of executive leadership across global, multi-site enterprises. He is recognized for driving business performance through operational excellence, strategic planning, organizational leadership, and the disciplined execution of growth and transformation initiatives.

Before joining AEM in February 2024, Rich served as CEO of Integrated Polymer Solutions, President of QRP, a subsidiary of Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing, President and CEO of Joined Alloys, Executive Vice President of Sargent Aerospace and Defense, and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Alcoa Fastening Systems. His career has been defined by full P&L accountability, turnaround and growth leadership, and sustained revenue and EBITDA performance in complex aerospace and defense markets.

Fernando Spada, Chief Commercial Officer

Fernando Spada is Chief Commercial Officer of AEM, Inc., where he leads the company's global commercial organization and accelerates AEM's next phase of growth across Circuit Protection, Power Conditioning, and Radio Frequency.

A commercial growth executive with 30 years in the electronics industry, Fernando specializes in pricing transformation, go-to-market redesign, and the application of AI and digital tools to scale revenue and customer engagement.

Fernando brings three decades of experience in the electronics industry, with a career defined by commercial transformation, global operating leadership, and the disciplined pursuit of profitable growth. Before joining AEM, he served as Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer at Orbweaver Sourcing and as Director of Global Marketing for Connection Systems at Aptiv. He spent nearly 25 years at KEMET Electronics Corporation, where he held successive leadership roles spanning operations, M&A, product marketing, and global distribution sales, ultimately serving as Vice President of Marketing and Digital Engagement, building deep expertise across manufacturing, commercial strategy, and digital enablement.

He holds an EMBA from China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), an MS in Electrical Engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington, and a bachelor's degree in Electromechanical Engineering from Universidad Panamericana. 

Conrado Hinojosa, Chief Operations Officer

Conrado Hinojosa serves as the Chief Operating Officer of AEM, Inc., bringing over 25 years of experience as a global business executive. He specializes in driving operational excellence and transformative growth across the automotive, electronics, and materials technology sectors. By leveraging a foundation in technical engineering alongside executive leadership, Conrado oversees multi-site organizations and large-scale global teams.

His career is defined by a proven track record of scaling operations through M&A, R&D innovation, and rigorous general management, ensuring that complex business structures translate into sustainable market leadership.

Conrado's approach is rooted in the precision of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, honed during his leadership tenure at organizations such as Littelfuse, emphasizing the intersection of logical problem-solving and disciplined execution.

With an MBA from ITESM and a background in Mechanical Electrical Engineering, Conrado focuses on breaking down intricate global challenges into actionable strategies that empower teams and optimize performance. At AEM, he is dedicated to fostering environments where continuous improvement is the standard and technical expertise consistently drives business value.

Gregory Chapman, Chief Financial Officer

Gregory Chapman is the Chief Financial Officer for AEM, Inc., where he oversees the company's financial operations and capital strategy.  He is a seasoned CFO with extensive experience in private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic financial leadership.

Prior to his current role, Gregory served as the CFO of Kano Laboratories, where he was instrumental in leading the company through a successful 3.1x private equity exit. Previously, he was a Deal Partner at Athena Capital, a middle-market private equity fund in South Africa. In this role, he focused on investments within the consumer and industrial products sectors, driving value creation across the portfolio.

Before his transition into corporate and fund leadership, Gregory was a Partner at EY within the Strategy and Transactions practice. During his tenure at EY, he specialized in financial due diligence and M&A, advising on complex transactions for a diverse range of middle-market and global organizations. Gregory's professional expertise is centered on leveraging data-driven analytics, treasury management, and capital strategy to drive operational excellence and maximize enterprise value in high-growth, private equity-backed environments.

Gregory earned his Bachelor of Business Science with Honors in Accounting, Finance, and Strategy from the University of Cape Town and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.