Archer Aviation has announced the appointment of industry veteran Nikhil Goel as the company’s new Chief Commercial Officer, as the firm positions itself for the release of its much-anticipated electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the Midnight, set to launch in 2025 in the U.S.
Last June, Archer fortified its leadership team with the appointment of ex-acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen as Chief Safety Officer. With over three decades of experience in corporate safety, regulatory affairs, and flight operations, as well as a fervent championing of the eVTOL industry, Nolen’s hiring marks a significant stride in Archer’s ongoing development.
Goel, co-founder of Uber Elevate (now part of Joby Aviation) and a pioneer in the eVTOL industry, brings considerable experience to his new role at Archer. He is largely recognized for his role in developing the commercial vision for the eVTOL industry through the Uber Elevate white paper.
In his capacity as Chief Commercial Officer, Goel’s key responsibility will be to advance Archer’s commercialization strategy, targeting initial launch markets in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco.
Beyond the U.S., Goel will also seek to capture international demand by establishing strategic partnerships across several markets including the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.
Goel’s appointment comes at a pivotal time as Archer continues to expedite its commercialization efforts, bolstered by a $10 million pre-delivery payment from United Airlines for 100 eVTOL aircraft. These aircraft are expected to service multiple point-to-point routes announced in partnership with United Airlines in the U.S.
Archer’s Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft with a range of up to 100 miles, that aims to perform quick turnaround times with minimal charging required between flights. Component manufacturing for Midnight is already in progress, targeting final assembly in late 2023 and beginning flight test operations in early 2024.
Goel brings an illustrious track record to his role at Archer. Prior to his role at Uber Elevate, he served on Uber’s emerging markets and rider experience teams and held positions at McKinsey & Company, Google, Microsoft, and NASA. He has also served as a Senior Advisor to Archer since 2020.
Commenting on Goel’s appointment, Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO, stated, “It’s clear that now is the right time to bring Nikhil on to capitalize on the sizable market opportunity for domestic and global expansion.”
Goel himself remarked on his appointment, “I’ve been working with Adam and the team for several years, and I believe Archer is the most well-positioned eVTOL aircraft OEM to make this vision a reality with the industry’s leading team and product. It’s an honor to join the company as Chief Commercial Officer and lead our path to market.”
Given the ambitious nature of Archer’s plan and Goel’s proven expertise in the field, the appointment marks an exciting development in the burgeoning eVTOL landscape.
