Airbus Board of Directors Announces Top Management Succession Plan
· CEO Tom Enders seeks no further mandate beyond April 2019
· COO and President Commercial Aircraft Fabrice Brégier to step down in February 2018
· Guillaume Faury, currently CEO Airbus Helicopters, to succeed Fabrice Brégier as
President Airbus Commercial Aircraft
Amsterdam, 15 December 2017 – The Board of Directors of Airbus SE (stock exchange
symbol: AIR) has decided on a series of Executive changes that ensure an orderly
succession in the Executive leadership of Airbus.
Tom Enders (59) has advised the Board that he does not wish to seek another term as
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) beyond his current mandate which runs until the 2019 Annual
Shareholders Meeting (April 2019).
“The privilege of serving this great company comes with a responsibility to support a smooth
succession when the time is ripe. In 2019, I will have served all together 14 years at the helm
of Airbus and EADS. It’s been a long and exciting journey but now is the time to initiate a
leadership change. We need fresh minds for the 2020s. In the coming 16 months, I will work
with the Board to ensure a smooth transition to the next CEO and a new generation of
leaders; I will focus on our business challenges; and I will further progress and strengthen
our ethics and compliance programmes,” said Tom Enders.
Fabrice Brégier (56), Airbus Chief Operating Officer (COO) & President Airbus Commercial
Aircraft has indicated to the Board that, as he does not intend to be part of the selection
process for the CEO position in 2019, he will step down in February 2018 and pursue other
interests.
“After 25 years with the company including five years as MBDA CEO, four years as CEO of
Eurocopter and eleven years as COO, CEO or President of Airbus commercial aircraft, I feel
the time is right to pursue other opportunities outside. I have been fully dedicated to Airbus
and to its success during all these years, and up to my departure next year I will remain
focused on meeting Airbus’ commitments to all stakeholders and on ensuring a smooth
handover to my successor,” commented Fabrice Brégier.
“I understand Fabrice’s decision and his motives and, frankly, I would not have done
differently,” said Enders. “Many of the achievements this company can be proud of over the
