A new chief executive has been named at Airbus. The European aircraft maker’s board picked insider Guillaume Faury to replace CEO Tom Enders in April.
The 50-year-old Faury currently serves as president of Airbus’ commercial aircraft division. He was CEO of Airbus Helicopters from 2013 until February 2018.
Board Chairman Denis Ranque praised Faury’s “global outlook, extensive operational experience, strong personal values and straightforward leadership style” in a statement. Enders has been the CEO of Airbus since May 2012. The 59-year-old announced last December he planned to step down.
Tom Enders, CEO of Airbus, said: “Guillaume is an excellent choice. He has gained broad industrial and aeronautic experience over many years and in many roles both inside and outside Airbus. With his strong values and international mindset, Guillaume stands for the new generation of leaders that Airbus needs for the coming decade. He knows he can rely on me to facilitate a smooth transition.”
Before taking charge of Airbus’ Commercial Aircraft division in February 2018, Faury led the company’s helicopter business. He also did tours as a senior manager at Peugeot and Eurocopter.
“I am honored to have been selected by the Board to lead this extraordinary company. I look forward to taking on this new challenge with passion and enthusiasm, relying on the exceptional expertise and engagement of all Airbus people around the world,” said Guillaume Faury.
Airbus (EADSF) has had a strong run this year, with its stock up 25% since January. But the company is facing challenges that will require the licensed flight test engineer to quickly get up to speed.
Airbus, which is based in Toulouse, France, dominates the commercial aircraft market along with rival Boeing. It delivered a record 718 aircraft in 2017 and employs 129,000 staff worldwide.
