Airbus Names New Tech Chief as Jetliner Future Takes Shape
Airbus has appointed Remi Maillard to lead its technology and engineering units in a leadership overhaul, signaling renewed focus on its next-generation aircraft strategy.
Airbus has appointed Remi Maillard, its current head of India and South Asia operations, to lead its technology and engineering initiatives as the aerospace giant accelerates development efforts for its next-generation civil aircraft.
Effective July 1, Maillard will become the Head of Technology at Airbus, overseeing Research & Technology (R&T) across the group while also serving as EVP Engineering for Commercial Aircraft. The restructuring marks a significant shift in how Airbus positions its innovation leadership.
Maillard takes over the dual role from Sabine Klauke, who will transition to lead Digital Design, Manufacturing, and Services (DDMS) within the commercial division. Her new role includes responsibility for building the “factory of the future,” a key component of Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury’s vision for efficient next-gen jet production.
Notably, the Head of Technology position will no longer carry the title of Chief Technology Officer or hold a seat on Airbus’s main executive committee. While some insiders view this as a possible downgrade of the technology function, others emphasize its importance in shaping Airbus’s next major aircraft project, potentially launching by the end of the decade.
Airbus is currently investing in advanced technologies for a future narrowbody jet, likely to succeed the highly successful A320neo. Areas of focus include alternative propulsion systems, lightweight materials, next-gen systems, and slender folding wings. However, earlier plans for a regional hydrogen-powered aircraft have been postponed, with Airbus citing an immature hydrogen ecosystem.
Despite the structural changes, CEO Faury reaffirmed the strategic value of both new leadership roles, calling them “absolutely instrumental to the future of Airbus.”
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