Airbus is advancing its strategy to appoint a new internal head for its commercial aircraft business. This step indicates the revival of a separate civil jetliner division, with the list of probable candidates expanding to include sales chief Christian Scherer.
Industry insiders revealed that a final verdict regarding the organizational shift is expected in the upcoming weeks, following weeks of speculation after Reuters unveiled the potential restructuring in July.
CEO Guillaume Faury has held dual responsibilities as the group chief executive and the head of the largest civil planemaking venture globally since 2019. The pandemic-induced global supply disruption, ongoing war in Ukraine, and the worries surrounding Europe’s space autonomy following launcher delays have accentuated the strategic focal points for the French CEO over the last year.
Potential Successor: Christian Scherer
Initially, Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even was mentioned as a potential successor. However, the limelight has now shifted towards Chief Commercial Officer Christian Scherer, an Airbus veteran who has significant experience in the defence division and co-managing the turboprop joint-venture ATR. His appointment would signify a period of substantial continuity in the company’s main planemaking business, which is the primary source of the company’s revenue.
Airbus refrained from commenting on the internal restructuring. According to the latest annual report, the board, responsible for endorsing significant management alterations, is closely observing succession planning procedures.
Overcoming Industrial Challenges
The discourse surrounding Airbus’ managerial structure is delicate, considering the historical internal disagreements and previous clashes between minority shareholders from France and Germany. Despite this, experts affirm that Airbus has moved past being predominantly politically influenced and prone to internal disputes, a transition facilitated by an agreement to limit state interventions a decade ago.
Under Faury’s leadership, the company has seen a decrease in governance issues, with a unified front in speeding up industrial transformations and addressing environmental concerns. As the company prepares to meet the surging jet demand post-COVID, Christian Scherer, who has been instrumental in Airbus’ previous successful projects, faces imminent industrial challenges, including achieving a target of 720 deliveries this year and navigating a looming crisis with key supplier, Pratt & Whitney.
In related news, as part of a separate initiative dubbed Project ATOM, the Airbus Defence & Space unit is planning to merge Military Air Systems with FCAS, as reported by Reuters earlier this week.
