ZeroAvia has appointed Christine Ourmières-Widener as chief executive with immediate effect, putting the former Flybe, TAP Air Portugal and CityJet leader in charge of the hydrogen-electric propulsion developer as it advances certification and commercialisation of its technology. She had already been executive chair since November 2025 and previously served on ZeroAvia’s board from 2021.
The leadership change comes after founder and former chief executive Val Miftakhov departed in late May. Ourmières-Widener brings airline operating experience to a company focused on hydrogen aviation systems, a background that may help as ZeroAvia works through the operational and regulatory demands of bringing its propulsion programme to market.
Her appointment also underscores ZeroAvia’s shift from founder-led leadership to a more conventional executive structure at a critical stage of development. The company remains centred on certification work and on building a commercial path for its hydrogen-electric technology, rather than on aircraft orders or route expansion.