Key facts
- Fabrice Bregier, former CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, has been appointed chair of Vertical Aerospace's board.
- Bregier previously served as president of Palantir Technologies France from 2018 to 2024.
- Vertical Aerospace is developing electric and hybrid-electric eVTOL aircraft.
- EVTOL firms are increasingly targeting the military market.
Vertical Aerospace, an air taxi developer, announced on Monday that Fabrice Bregier, the former chief executive of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, has been appointed as the chair of its board of directors. Bregier's tenure at Airbus Commercial Aircraft ran from 2012 to 2018, during which he also held the position of chief operating officer for the group, overseeing the A350 program and operational turnaround. More recently, he served as president of Palantir Technologies France from 2018 to 2024. The appointment comes as companies in the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft sector are striving to obtain regulatory approvals for commercial launches. Vertical Aerospace is developing both an all-electric, four-passenger piloted aircraft named Valo, and a hybrid-electric variant designed for extended range and flexibility. The eVTOL industry is also increasingly looking towards the military market due to escalating defense spending, as commercial development timelines have proven longer than initially anticipated. Ben Story, who had been serving as the company's interim chair since May, will continue as a member of the board.