This article is based on an official press release from Vertical Aerospace.

Vertical Aerospace Bolsters Leadership Team to Drive ‘Valo’ Industrialization

Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL), a global pioneer in electric aviation, announced on January 8, 2026, the appointment of three senior executives to its leadership team. The move comes less than a week after the company unveiled its new commercial aircraft, the “Valo,” and signals a strategic pivot from research and development toward certification and mass production.

According to the company’s official announcement, the new appointments cover critical operational pillars: data and digital infrastructure, propulsion engineering, and human resources. These leadership changes are designed to support the company’s target of achieving Type Certification by 2028 and subsequent entry into commercial service.

New Leadership for a New Phase

Vertical Aerospace has recruited seasoned executives with backgrounds in global scaling and technical transformation. The appointments include Juan Carlos (“JC”) Sacristan as Chief Data & Information Officer (CDIO), Richard Moore as Vice President of Powertrain, and Ollie Roberts as Chief People Officer (CPO).

Juan Carlos Sacristan joins the company to oversee its long-term data, digital, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategies. His primary mandate is to construct a “digital backbone” that integrates disparate functions, from design and procurement to testing and manufacturing. Sacristan brings over two decades of experience, having previously held leadership roles at Abcam, Adidas, Nike, and GE Gas Engines.

Richard Moore will lead the specialized Powertrain engineering organization. With over 35 years of aeronautics experience, Moore is tasked with integrating mission-critical systems, including energy storage, battery management systems (BMS), and electric propulsion units (EPUs). His technical expertise is expected to be vital for the certification of the company’s electric aviation systems.

Ollie Roberts assumes the role of Chief People Officer, focusing on talent attraction, organizational design, and culture. Roberts, formerly of BMI Group and AB InBev, will lead the effort to build a workforce capable of supporting commercial-scale operations.

Strategic Context: The ‘Valo’ and Market Confidence

These appointments follow closely on the heels of Vertical Aerospace’s January 3, 2026, unveiling of the Valo, the successor to its VX4 prototype. The Valo features a redesigned airframe and updated propeller architecture, representing the configuration intended for commercial production.

The company’s shift toward industrialization has also drawn attention from the financial sector. On January 7, 2026, investment firm William Blair initiated coverage of Vertical Aerospace with an “Outperform” rating. Analysts cited the company’s strategic positioning and the specific design attributes of the Valo aircraft as key differentiators in the competitive eVTOL market.

Vertical Aerospace currently holds an order book of approximately 1,500 pre-orders from major customers, including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL, and Bristow Group.

AirPro News Analysis

The appointment of a Chief Data & Information Officer with a specific mandate for a “digital backbone” is a significant indicator of Vertical’s maturity. In the aerospace sector, the “digital thread”, the continuous flow of data from a digital design to the physical part on the factory floor, is essential for regulatory compliance. By prioritizing this infrastructure now, Vertical is likely attempting to preempt the documentation and traceability bottlenecks that often delay certification programs.

Executive Commentary

Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, emphasized that these hires are essential for the company’s next operational phase.

“As we move at pace toward certification, manufacturing and commercialisation, strengthening leadership across technology, core engineering disciplines and people positions us to scale effectively and deliver on our long-term ambitions. I’m delighted to kick off this transformational year with these top tier appointments.”

, Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace

The company continues to work with key industrial partners, including Honeywell for avionics and Syensqo for composite materials, as it progresses toward its 2028 certification goal.

Sources

• Vertical Aerospace Press Release (BusinessWire)