Wisk Aero, a developer of autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and a wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing, has announced the appointment of Sebastien Vigneron as its new CEO. Vigneron, who previously served as the company’s Senior Vice President of Engineering and Programs, succeeds Brian Yutko, who will transition to a leadership position within Boeing’s Commercial Airplanes Division (BCA).
In a statement, Vigneron said, “Having been deeply involved in Wisk’s journey over the last four years, this is an exciting time for the company and AAM as a whole. I look forward to guiding our talented team through this critical stage and leveraging the enhanced collaboration with Boeing to bring safe, autonomous flight to everyday life.”
Vigneron has played a significant role in the development of Wisk’s Generation 6 (Gen 6) aircraft, overseeing key technologies such as autonomy and airspace integration. His experience includes managing hardware and software engineering, flight testing, and program management. Before joining Wisk in 2021, Vigneron held leadership roles at Virgin Hyperloop, Bombardier, and Dassault Aviation, contributing to the development of type-certified aircraft.
The leadership change comes as Wisk works towards the certification and eventual commercial deployment of its Gen 6 aircraft. Vigneron’s extensive experience in aircraft development positions him to guide the company through these critical phases.
Brian Yutko, the outgoing CEO, will remain involved with Wisk in his new role at Boeing. He commented, “I am honoured to join the storied Product Development team at Boeing and to connect the pioneering technologies and bold spirit of innovation we’ve cultivated at Wisk. Sebastien is an incredible leader and I look forward to continuing to work closely with him and the Wisk team as we fly Gen 6, progress our certification program and enter service.”