Lilium, an electric aircraft manufacturer and company in regional air mobility (RAM), made changes to its board of directors, subject to approval at the upcoming extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (EGM) on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. The company intends to appoint Philippe Balducchi as a non-executive member of the board, while Barry Engle and Henri Courpron, who have served as non-executive directors, do not plan to stand for re-appointment following the completion of their terms.

Balducchi currently serves as group chief financial officer of KNDS, a tier one European defense technology supplier with production lines in France and Germany and industrial partnerships throughout the world.

Balducchi brings extensive aerospace program experience having also previously served in multiple senior management roles during a 20-year career at Airbus and its predecessor companies. As CEO of Airbus Canada, Philippe oversaw the production ramp up of the successful Bombardier C-Series, its rebranding as the Airbus A220 and the establishment of a new final assembly line in Alabama. Balducchi is an aviation engineer and holds an MBA from HEC Paris Business School.

“Philippe’s strategic insights, his financial acumen and his experience in managing large-scale operations in the aerospace and defense sector make him a valuable addition to Lilium’s board,” Tom Enders, chairman of Lilium, said.

“I am thrilled to be proposed to join Lilium at such an exciting time in its journey,” Balducchi said. “The company’s vision for electric air mobility is not only innovative but also transformative for the industry. I look forward to contributing to Lilium’s continued success and working with the talented team and board members to advance our shared goals.”

Barry Engle and Henri Courpron have both been instrumental in shaping Lilium’s trajectory, helping the company to grow from a startup to a mature aerospace company.

Engle served as a member of Lilium’s board since September 2021. He was the key player in securing Lilium’s NASDAQ listing via a de-SPAC procedure. Since joining the board, Engle was the chair of the audit committee. He has now taken over an executive position that no longer allows him to be part of a board in Europe.

“Barry and Henri made outstanding contributions to Lilium,” Engle said. “Serving on a board on the other side of the Atlantic comes with additional challenges and sacrifices. We are very grateful for their service and wish them well for their futures.”