Key facts
- Amparo Moraleda has become Airbus's first female chairperson.
- The new chairperson is the first from outside Airbus's Franco-German power base.
- CEO succession decisions are expected to begin in April 2025.
Airbus has appointed its first female chairperson and a board member from outside its traditional Franco-German power base, signaling a crucial leadership transition expected to begin next year. The company is anticipated to start seriously considering CEO succession as early as April 2025, well ahead of current CEO Guillaume Faury's mandate deadline in April 2028.
The leadership transition at Airbus, one of Europe's largest industrial companies, is critical for its strategic direction, particularly concerning future aircraft development and its competitive positioning against Boeing. The succession process will test the company's governance and its ability to balance continuity with fresh leadership.
Airbus has announced significant changes to its board of directors, including the appointment of Amparo Moraleda as its first female chairperson and the first from outside its traditional Franco-German power base. Moraleda, a former energy executive, succeeded Rene Obermann, whose term was set to expire in April. These changes signal the beginning of crucial leadership decisions for the European planemaker, with sources indicating that the company may begin seriously considering CEO succession as early as April next year. The current CEO, Guillaume Faury, will have been in the role for nine years by the time his mandate expires in April 2028, and a decision on renewal or replacement is expected well in advance.
Lars Wagner, currently CEO of MTU Aero Engines, is widely viewed as the heir apparent should Faury step down. Wagner's own succession at MTU followed a similar pattern of early naming and handover. However, some sources question how long Wagner, who has already served as a CEO of a listed company, would wait for the top Airbus job if not selected.
The CEO position at Airbus, a company with 160,000 employees and a diverse product range from commercial jets to rockets and fighters, is considered one of Europe's most sensitive industrial roles. The handling of this succession is seen as a test of Airbus's more market-focused governance, especially following past Franco-German power struggles. Analysts suggest Airbus must balance continuity with the need to secure a successor for long-term strategic decisions, including the development of a future new aircraft model.
Faury, appointed in 2019, has overseen Airbus through the COVID-19 crisis and has not ruled out serving a fourth term, having set record profit targets for 2029. He stated in July that he was "fully available for the board to do what they think is appropriate for the company and enjoy what I'm doing." Wagner, meanwhile, has outlined a vision that includes reviewing engine technologies for an A320 successor, a critical project for the next CEO.
The company's human resources management is also under scrutiny due to recent on-off strikes in Spain, which were reportedly the longest in the company's history. Staff voted on Thursday to end the dispute, which stemmed from efficiency measures and a return-to-work directive that has since been dropped.
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