Swedish electric airplane maker Heart Aerospace has appointed John S. Slattery, as non-executive chairman of its Board of Directors. Slattery continues to serve as executive vice president and chief commercial officer at GE Aerospace.
“I’m excited to take on this role at such a decisive time for our industry,” Slattery says. “We are accountable to future generations, and if we are to reach carbon neutrality, we need to act with vision, courage, curiosity, and the sense of urgency demonstrated by the team at Heart Aerospace.”
He adds: “The segment targeted by Heart Aerospace is ripe for disruption. It will not only help with decarbonisation of commercial aviation but will also democratise travel bringing commercial flight back to communities long since not served or indeed airports that are losing service today. The value proposition of the ES-30 regional hybrid electric airplane brings a classic ‘blue-ocean’ strategy to the market where everyone will benefit – including the environment.”
Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace, says he is honoured to bring John on board: “He is one of the defining industry leaders of the modern era, and he has a relentless drive towards decarbonising air travel. As Heart grows as a company, John is a perfect fit for us. We couldn’t be more excited.”
Prior to joining GE, Slattery served as president & CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation. Before Embraer, he spent fifteen years in various executive roles at leading commercial aerospace advisory, aircraft leasing, and aviation banking organisations.
Slattery is a Fellow at The Royal Aeronautical Society and President Emeritus of The Wings Club Foundation. He sits on the board of directors at ORBIS International and the board of governors at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. He also remains active at his alma mater, University of Limerick, as an adjunct professor in the Kemmy School of Business where he received his MBA and more recently an Honorary Doctorate in Economic Science.