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Air taxi maker Vertical taps former Airbus executive Fabrice Bregier as chair - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
Finance

Air taxi maker Vertical taps former Airbus executive Fabrice Bregier as chair

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on September 21, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: September 21, 2026

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Vertical Aerospace Appoints Ex-Airbus Chief Fabrice Bregier as Board Chair

Vertical Aerospace's Leadership Update and Industry Context

Appointment of Fabrice Bregier

Sept 21 (Reuters) - Air taxi developer Vertical Aerospace said on Monday it had appointed former Airbus Commercial Aircraft division chief executive Fabrice Bregier as chair of its board of directors.

Industry Developments and Company Initiatives

eVTOL Regulatory Race

• The announcement comes as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft firms race to secure regulatory approvals ahead of commercial launches.

Product Development

• Alongside its all-electric, four-passenger piloted aircraft Valo, Vertical is developing a hybrid-electric variant, which would offer more range and mission flexibility.

Market Focus

Military and Commercial Markets

• EVTOL firms are also focusing more on the military market amid rising defense spending, with commercial development taking longer than expected.

Fabrice Bregier's Background

Recent Roles

• Bregier most recently served as president of Palantir Technologies France from 2018 to 2024.

Airbus Experience

• In addition to serving as CEO of Airbus' unit from 2012 to 2018, Bregier was chief operating officer of the group, where he led the development of the A350 programme and the company's operational turnaround.

Board Changes and Market Reaction

Board Membership

• Vertical said Ben Story, who has been the company's interim chair since May, would remain a member of the board.

Share Performance

• Shares of the company were marginally down in afternoon trading.

(Reporting by Anshuman Tripathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)

Key Takeaways

  • Fabrice Bregier brings deep aerospace leadership, having led Airbus Commercial Aircraft (2012–2018), served as COO overseeing the A350 programme and operational turnaround, and led Palantir France (2018–2024) (investing.com)
  • Vertical’s shares jumped as much as 5.7% in premarket trading following the appointment, reflecting investor optimism (investing.com)
  • The move comes as vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) firms, including Vertical, race for regulatory approval, develop hybrid‑electric variants of their aircraft, and explore military market applications amid rising defense spending (investing.com)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has been appointed as the new chair of Vertical Aerospace?
Former Airbus executive Fabrice Bregier has been appointed as chair of Vertical Aerospace's board of directors.
What is Vertical Aerospace developing besides its all-electric aircraft?
Vertical Aerospace is also developing a hybrid-electric variant to offer greater range and mission flexibility.
Why are eVTOL firms focusing on the military market?
EVTOL firms are focusing more on the military market due to rising defense spending and slower than expected commercial developments.
What previous leadership roles has Fabrice Bregier held?
Bregier was CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, COO of Airbus Group, and president of Palantir Technologies France.
Who served as Vertical Aerospace's interim chair before Fabrice Bregier?
Ben Story served as interim chair and will remain a member of the board.

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