Guillaume Faury

Guillaume Faury
Name	Guillaume Faury
Birth date	1973
Birth place	Paris, France
Occupation	Business executive, engineer
Employer	Airbus SE
Title	Chief Executive Officer

Guillaume Faury is a French engineer and executive known for leadership roles in aerospace and aviation. He has held senior positions at Eurocopter, Airbus Helicopters, Airbus SE, and overseen programs involving A380, A320neo, H160, NH90, and NHIndustries. Faury's career spans work with major institutions such as Safran, Dassault Aviation, Thales Group, General Electric, and involvement with programs linked to European Commission initiatives and NATO procurement.

Early life and education

Faury was born in Paris and raised in France, where he attended elite engineering schools including École Polytechnique and École Nationale Supérieure de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (ISAE-SUPAERO), studying alongside cohorts connected to Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), and alumni networks reaching Airbus Defence and Space and Safran. During his studies he participated in projects with links to French Air Force, European Space Agency, Snecma, and research collaborations involving Institut Polytechnique de Paris. His technical formation emphasized aerodynamics, structures, and systems integration, preparing him for roles interfacing with Aerospace Valley, ONERA, Thales Alenia Space, and multinational consortia.

Career at Eurocopter/Airbus Helicopters

Faury joined Eurocopter (later Airbus Helicopters) where he progressed through engineering and program management roles on rotorcraft such as the H120, H225, Tiger (helicopter), NH90, and the multinational NHIndustries program, coordinating with partners including Leonardo S.p.A., MBDA, Safran Helicopter Engines, and MTU Aero Engines. As head of programs he managed certification and production interfaces with European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Direction générale de l'aviation civile (DGAC), Lufthansa Technik, Air France, and Helibras, and led development of the H160 with suppliers like Parker Hannifin, Honeywell, and GE Aviation. He later served as CEO of Airbus Helicopters, overseeing commercial strategy with customers such as CHC Helicopter, Bristow Group, NHV Group, and coordinating industrial sites in Marignane, Donauwörth, and Helicopter Manufacturing Spain.

Leadership at Airbus SE

After moving to Airbus SE, Faury assumed roles including head of Airbus Commercial Aircraft and chief operating responsibilities spanning the A320neo family, A350 XWB, A380, and freighter conversions involving FedEx Express and DHL Aviation. He engaged with governance bodies such as the European Commission on trade matters, worked with International Air Transport Association and ICAO on sustainability, and negotiated with labor representatives from IG Metall, CFDT, and SNPL. Faury coordinated industrial partnerships across Hamburg, Toulouse, Seville, and Broughton, interfacing with suppliers including Spirit AeroSystems, Safran, Rolls-Royce, and Pratt & Whitney.

Tenure as CEO of Airbus (2020–present)

Appointed CEO of Airbus SE in 2020, Faury led the company through the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, supply chain disruptions involving Semiconductor Industry, and strategic shifts toward sustainability in alignment with European Green Deal and Flightpath 2050 objectives. He prioritized programs for the A321neo, A350, and new initiatives in urban air mobility with partners like Volocopter, BETA Technologies, and investments tied to Hydrogen Council commitments, while managing relations with institutional shareholders French State and Lagardère. His tenure involved regulatory interactions with European Union authorities, export controls related to US Department of Commerce and Bureau of Industry and Security, and engagement in defense programs with NATO members and the European Defence Agency.

Awards and honors

Faury has received industry recognition including mentions from organizations such as Farnborough International Airshow, Paris Air Show, Royal Aeronautical Society, and honors associated with French state distinctions like Légion d'honneur-adjacent acknowledgments and citations from Armée de l'Air. He has been featured in rankings by Fortune, Bloomberg, Financial Times, and received corporate awards tied to innovation from Clean Sky and cooperation acknowledgments from European Aeronautics Science Network (EASN).

Personal life and interests

Outside his executive duties, Faury has interests in aviation history, technology advocacy, and academic collaboration with institutions such as ISAE-SUPAERO, École Polytechnique, INSEAD, and HEC Paris. He participates in forums like World Economic Forum, Aero-Invest, and speaks at events including Paris Air Forum and Singapore Airshow, maintaining ties with professional bodies including the Royal Aeronautical Society and mentoring through networks linked to Institut Montaigne and Fondation pour l'innovation politique.

Category:French chief executives Category:Airbus people