Vertical Aerospace expands its leadership team with key executive appointments
Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electrical aviation, has announced that it will add key executives to its leadership team as the company accelerates through its FlightPath 2030 goals.
“We're looking forward to seeing you in the world,” said Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace. “These appointments further strengthen our leadership bench as we accelerate to the next phase of growth and global deployment. Mark and Steve bring decades of deep operational and engineering expertise to contribute to driving VX4 certification and commercialization on scale. We expand our VX4 strategy and market potential.”
Mark Higson is a veteran executive with key expertise in operational and commercial strategy development, leading complex global organizations through change in change.
He has over 40 years of experience in international business and has recently been Chief Executive Officer of Modulaire Group, a global leader in modular services and infrastructure, successfully leading the sales and refinance of his business.
Originally an aerospace engineer, Higson began his career in aerospace in the UK, then served as senior operational leadership roles across the industrial sector, including Wolseley UK and The Royal Mail, serving as Senior Advisor at McKinsey & Company and Senior Advisor at Advent International's portfolio company.
Steve Vellacott will be taking part as Vice President of Airworthensions & Head of Design Organization, bringing decades of experience in structural engineering and design.
He joined Lilium Vertical Aerospace, where he is Chief Technology Officer, Director of Design and oversees the team responsible for design, development and certification of EVTOL aircraft.
Prior to Lilium, Bellacott spent more than 30 years in the Leonardo helicopter, playing a variety of leadership roles across international civil and military programs, working closely with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on aircraft certification and compliance. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Aviation Society in 2018.
Eric Samson was appointed VP Programme-Hybrid and was built on the recently announced hybrid electric VTOL aircraft strategy. Samson is a proven aerospace leader with extensive experience in aircraft design and system integration.
Since joining Vertical Aerospace in 2020, he has served as Senior Vice President and Head of Design Organization for Engineering and Design, leading the Vertical Aerospace Engineering and Design Organization, designing, building, testing and preparing the VX4. Before vertical aerospace, Samson played a variety of technical and leadership roles, including Jet Airlines and Gulfstream Aerospace.
The expansion of the vertical aerospace leadership team is based on the company's great momentum and advances towards delivering scalable and authenticable aircraft to the global market. The company said it was on track to complete its test flight program in 2025, recently achieving the first piloted wingbone flight of the winged EVTOL in public spaces in Europe.
Source: Vertical aerospace.
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