Finance
Airbus Taps Spaniard Moraleda as New Board Chair
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 14, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 14, 2026
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Airbus has named Spanish executive Amparo Moraleda as its next board chair—the first time the role will be held by someone outside France or Germany. Her appointment, effective October 2026, was confirmed at the AGM in Amsterdam on April 14, 2026.
Airbus Appoints Amparo Moraleda as First Non-French or German Board Chair
Historic Leadership Change at Airbus
Background of the Appointment
April 14 (Reuters) - Airbus named Spanish national Amparo Moraleda as the next chair of its board on Tuesday, marking the first time in the European aerospace giant's more than five-decade history that the role will be held by someone who is neither French nor German.
Shareholder Structure and National Influence
France and Germany each own 10.8% of Airbus and have long dominated the company's upper echelons. The Spanish government holds a 4.1% stake.
Details of Moraleda's Appointment
Moraleda, who currently serves as lead independent director on the Airbus board, will assume the role in October, succeeding René Obermann, who decided not to seek a new term. The appointment was approved by shareholders gathered at the company's annual general meeting in Amsterdam on Tuesday.
Professional Background of Amparo Moraleda
An industrial engineer by training, Moraleda previously served as chief operating officer of Spanish power utility Iberdrola's international division and as general manager of IBM Spain and Portugal. She currently holds board positions at A.P. Moller-Maersk, CaixaBank and Vodafone, among others.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro; Editing by Joe Bavier)
Key Takeaways
- •Amparo Moraleda becomes Airbus’s first non‑French or German board chair, marking a historic shift in leadership demographics.
- •Major shareholders: France holds ≈10.8–10.9%, Germany ≈10.8%, Spain ≈4.1%—her appointment underscores Spain’s growing influence in Airbus governance (en.wikipedia.org).
- •Moraleda brings extensive cross‑sector leadership experience, including roles at IBM, Iberdrola, CaixaBank, Vodafone, and Maersk (airbus.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Airbus taps Spaniard Moraleda as new board chair
1Who is the new chair of the Airbus board?
Spanish national Amparo Moraleda has been named as the new chair of the Airbus board, effective October.
2What is significant about Amparo Moraleda's appointment?
Moraleda is the first person who is neither French nor German to chair the Airbus board in over 50 years.
3When will Amparo Moraleda assume her new role at Airbus?
Amparo Moraleda will assume the role of board chair in October, following the end of René Obermann's term.
4Which countries hold significant stakes in Airbus?
France and Germany each own 10.8% of Airbus, and Spain holds a 4.1% stake.
5What is Amparo Moraleda's professional background?
Moraleda has served as COO of Iberdrola's international division, general manager of IBM Spain and Portugal, and holds board positions at various companies.
