Changes at the top for Airbus – Tom Williams Succeeds Günter Butschek as Airbus Chief Operating Officer

The Board of Directors of Airbus Group has approved the following top management appointments as proposed by Airbus Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tom Enders and Airbus CEO Fabrice Brégier, effective as of 1 January 2015:

Tom Williams (62), presently Executive Vice President Programmes at Airbus, will succeed Günter Butschek (54) as Airbus Chief Operating Officer (COO) and will become a member of the Group Executive Committee of Airbus Group.

Butschek has decided to leave the Group at the end of 2014 in order to pursue other career opportunities.

“I regret Günter’s resignation. He joined us in 2011, at a time when we were facing a number of challenges in our industrial strategy and in operations. Since then, Airbus has benefited greatly from his automotive-rich experience and personal leadership. I thank him for all he brought to the company, among which the Airbus Operating System is only one of his achievements. I wish him all the best for the future,” said Tom Enders. “At the same time, I cannot think of anybody better suited internally than Tom Williams to replace Günter. It requires significant operational experience to be the COO of Airbus and Tom has all it takes to succeed in this critically important job.”

Didier Evrard (61), currently Head of the A350 XWB programme, will succeed Williams and in this new function will become a member of the Executive Committee of Airbus. He remains A350 XWB programme director until his successor is appointed.

Klaus Richter (50), Chief Procurement Officer of Airbus and Airbus Group, has been promoted to become a member of the Group Executive Committee of Airbus Group. In addition, he will become the national representative for Airbus in Germany.

main picture Tom Williams /Airbus