Anca Mihalache – AERO CARE: A Romanian Business Powering the Global Aviation Industry

Anca Mihalache, Managing Director at AERO CARE, is transforming a Romanian family business into a recognized name in international aviation through vision, passion, and authentic leadership.

Anca Mihalache, Managing Director at AERO CARE, specializes in the sale, leasing, and dismantling of aircraft engines. AERO CARE is a Romanian company founded in 2007 by her father, an aviation engineer, and for Anca, the business represents both her professional future and a way to keep her father’s memory and legacy alive.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in one sentence, to make those who don’t know you yet curious?

Anca Mihalache: I am a very hardworking and ambitious person, sometimes to the extreme, who has tried several fields before discovering that aviation is her true passion. I love my job, I am organized, and I believe in meeting deadlines, even though I must admit I enjoy the adrenaline of the last minute.

C&B: If we were to look at your career as a narrative, what were the key moments that defined you?

Anca Mihalache: I graduated from ASE – Commerce and SNSPA – Communication and PR. In 2012, my father sent me to the United States for a training program in aircraft parts procurement. That was the moment that completely changed my direction.
I then worked at AERO CARE until 2014, when I moved to Luxembourg to join Vallair as a Sales Executive. From there, I grew step by step to the position of Head of Trading and Leasing, managing the sale and leasing of engines and aircraft to airlines.
In 2019, I was invited to develop the engine department of APOC Aviation in the Netherlands from scratch. All these stages shaped not only my career but also my strategic and international mindset.

C&B: What were the biggest challenges in owning and managing 100% of the company, and how did you overcome them?

Anca Mihalache: The biggest challenge was my father’s absence. I would have loved to learn more from him and make decisions together. In aviation, the market changes quickly, and decisions must be made firmly and in real time, without hesitation.
I have American partners, but they are mostly investors. All commercial and technical decisions are mine because I am the only one specialized in Airbus and Boeing engines. That forced me to become confident and to trust my instincts.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, no matter the obstacles?

Anca Mihalache: Since I was a child, I used to say that I wanted to be a “business girl”; I loved playing “cash register.” It was always clear to me that I would work in sales. My dream remains the same: a balanced and financially stable life, with solid investments alongside AERO CARE.

C&B: How did you look at the beginning of your journey, and how do you feel you’ve transformed since then?

Anca Mihalache: At the beginning, I was much more insecure but full of curiosity. Today, I trust myself and my instincts. I am invited as a speaker at international conferences, and competitors follow my analyses and opinions on the market.
Still, the credit isn’t mine alone. Aviation is an extraordinary, international, and friendly industry where colleagues, clients, and even competitors often become lifelong friends. Although it’s a predominantly male field, I’ve always felt respected—and even spoiled—by the community.

C&B: If we were to meet your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?

Anca Mihalache: That I’m ambitious, demanding, hardworking, and sometimes… impossibly stubborn. But always fair.

C&B: What is the most important decision you’ve made that changed your path?

Anca Mihalache: Accepting to go to that training in the United States in 2012. I had no idea that would be the beginning of a career that would take me around the world.

C&B: How did you build your leadership style and decision-making approach?

Anca Mihalache: I think it’s a combination of instinct and learning. I’ve learned from school, from experience, but mostly from mistakes and from my former bosses—sometimes “that’s the way to do it,” other times “definitely not like that.”
I also worked with my mother at her medical clinic, and she’s a great people manager; she knows how to keep her employees close by earning their respect. Over time, I’ve learned to trust people but also to take responsibility for my decisions without hesitation.

C&B: How do you manage to meet clients’ needs and stand out in a competitive market?

Anca Mihalache: In aviation, we all sell the same metal. The difference is in customer support.
At AERO CARE, we focus on attention, communication, speed, and real support. It’s not the price that decides—it’s the relationship. Clients appreciate when they feel that you make their life easier and that you’re a reliable partner, not just a supplier.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you, and what moments bring you the most satisfaction?

Anca Mihalache: My day starts late because I work a lot with North America. Mornings are mine: gym, tennis, walking the dog, coffee without rush. From noon onwards, the calls, quotations, and engine evaluations begin.
It’s intense, global work, but my favorite moment is when a difficult negotiation ends successfully and everyone is satisfied.

C&B: What values guide you, and how do you apply them daily?

Anca Mihalache: I strongly believe in ethics and respect. You don’t have to “step on corpses” to succeed. I believe in win-win relationships, empathy, and humor—even in negotiations.
You can be strong and competitive without being harsh. Success has a different taste when it’s built with elegance.

C&B: How was AERO CARE founded, and what motivated you to continue its story?

Anca Mihalache: AERO CARE was founded by my father, a highly respected aviation engineer.
For me, continuing this business is not just a professional mission but a personal one. I want AERO CARE to remain an active, profitable, and respected company that carries forward the passion and professionalism it was built with.

C&B: What are AERO CARE’s development plans for the coming years?

Anca Mihalache: My goal, together with our partners, is to reach at least ten engines dismantled per year. It’s a realistic yet ambitious goal, and as always in aviation, success depends on hard work, intuition, and a bit of luck.

The story of Anca Mihalache and AERO CARE proves that vision, discipline, and passion can turn a family business into a respected player in the global aviation market.