Vertical Aerospace Taps Former Airbus Executive Fabrice Bregier as Chairman

Vertical Aerospace, a developer of electric air taxis, announced Monday it has appointed former Airbus executive Fabrice Bregier as the new chairman of its board of directors. The move brings a seasoned aviation industry leader to the helm as the company and its peers navigate the complex process of certifying their novel aircraft for commercial use.

A Veteran of Aerospace Leadership

Bregier brings a wealth of experience from his tenure at the highest levels of the global aerospace industry. His most notable roles include:

• CEO of Airbus' Commercial Aircraft division from 2012 to 2018.
• Chief Operating Officer of the Airbus group, where he was instrumental in leading the development of the A350 program and a broader operational turnaround.

More recently, Bregier served as the president of Palantir Technologies France from 2018 to 2024. Vertical Aerospace stated that Ben Story, who has served as interim chair since May, will remain a member of the board.

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Strategic Context for eVTOL Firms

The appointment comes at a critical time for the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) sector. Companies like Vertical Aerospace are in a race to secure regulatory approvals from aviation authorities, a process that has proven more time-consuming than initially anticipated.

Amid these extended timelines for commercial launch, many eVTOL firms are also increasing their focus on the military market to capitalize on rising defense spending. Vertical is developing its all-electric, four-passenger piloted aircraft, the Valo, as well as a hybrid-electric model designed to offer greater range and operational flexibility. Following the announcement, shares of the company were reported to be marginally down in afternoon trading.