Irfan Khalid is a senior executive with over 25 years of experience driving innovation, sales growth, and profitability across Fortune 500 companies and high-growth entrepreneurial ventures. He excels in leading complex organizations and high-value programs, consistently turning strategic ideas into measurable business success. Irfan’s leadership spans aerospace, automotive, electronics, and software industries, where he held Vice President roles overseeing both global and domestic markets. He held key positions at major industry leaders like GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Textron, CAE, and Dual Electronics, where he spearheaded the development, sales, and delivery of jet engines, avionics, MRO services, simulation & training solutions, and automotive systems, for both commercial and defense customers.
Irfan’s early career accomplishments were at Pratt & Whitney, where he held critical leadership roles in the development of advanced aircraft engines. Specifically, he led funding captures over $1 billion in collaboration with the US government which enhanced the engine capabilities for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Additionally, Irfan led large cross-functional teams of over 1,000 employees across multiple sites, successfully managing cost, schedule, and risk for engine programs valued up to $5 billion, which ensured technology maturation & production readiness.
As Regional Director for the Middle East at GE Aerospace, based in Qatar, Irfan drove over $10 billion in new sales orders for engines and long-term maintenance agreements with key commercial & military customers, including Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, and the Royal Air Force of Oman. His leadership was also instrumental in establishing an industrial partnership agreement for a Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) facility in Abu Dhabi, enhancing GE’s strategic position and supporting the UAE’s economic diversification.
Irfan subsequently moved to Shanghai, China, as Program Director for avionics development in GE’s joint venture with AVIC. In this capacity, he led multicultural and cross-functional teams to design, manufacture, certify, and deliver systems for the COMAC C919 commercial aircraft. His P&L management and execution of the $180 million avionics program culminated in the successful delivery of the first avionics systems to COMAC while ensuring long-term component availability through strategic supplier negotiations.
Later, Irfan was recruited by CAE, a global leader in flight simulation and pilot training solutions, to serve as Vice President and General Manager for the Asia-Pacific region. Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he managed over $1 billion in assets and oversaw more than 500 personnel across 15 sites. Under his leadership, the Asia-Pacific business unit achieved a fourfold organic EBIT growth in just two years, with annual revenues exceeding $100 million. He played a key role in establishing new joint ventures and expanding CAE’s market share in the region, notably through the acquisition of Lockheed Martin Commercial Flight Training. Additionally, Irfan served on the Board of Directors for three joint ventures, showcasing his leadership and governance expertise.
As Vice President for New Products & Business Development at Dual Electronics, Irfan led strategic initiatives to redefine the company’s offerings for entering new markets. Through his collaborative leadership, the company successfully launched several new electronic solutions for aviation and commercial vehicles, contributing to double-digit year-over-year growth. He also forged strategic partnerships with software companies and OEMs, establishing Dual as an approved tier-1 supplier for Daimler’s commercial vehicle division. This role highlighted Irfan’s ability to lead cross-functional teams across the USA and Asia in an entrepreneurial environment while aligning new product development with market demands.
In his role as Vice President & General Manager at Textron, Irfan directed strategic initiatives, sales growth, and overall P&L management for a multi-million-dollar portfolio of defense programs with the US Air Force, US Navy, Boeing, and other prominent customers. Under his leadership, the business secured & initiated new contracts over $50 million to deliver advanced simulation and training systems, and significantly diversified the company’s portfolio beyond aircraft training. He also established strong executive relationships with key partners to address commercial and technical challenges, fostering trust and facilitating new business opportunities. Additionally, Irfan implemented critical organizational and process changes, positioning the business for future growth.
Irfan holds an Executive MBA in International Business from the University of Miami and a BS in Systems Engineering from Purdue University. A certified Six Sigma Black Belt, he has been recognized with multiple accolades, including GE’s Global Sales Award and the GE-AVIC Lean Six Sigma Operational Excellence Award, underscoring his commitment to growth and process improvement.
Irfan brings a global perspective and a proven track record of driving growth and profitability, making him a key advisor and partner at Dark Alpha Capital.