Amparo Moraleda, a Spanish executive, has been elected as the new chair of Airbus’ board of directors, becoming the first woman and first Spaniard to lead the European aerospace giant’s governing body. She will succeed René Obermann, who has held the position since 2020, effective October 1.
The appointment was approved at Airbus’ shareholder meeting in Amsterdam on Tuesday. Moraleda, who joined the board in 2015, brings extensive leadership experience from roles including CEO of Indra and executive positions at IBM and Repsol.
This milestone strengthens Spain’s influence within Airbus, a company where the nation holds a key stake alongside France, Germany, and the UK. Her tenure comes amid Airbus’ push to ramp up A320neo and A350 production to meet surging post-pandemic demand.
Obermann’s departure follows his decision not to seek re-election, capping a period marked by supply chain recoveries and defense sector growth. Moraleda’s selection signals Airbus’ focus on diverse, multinational governance to navigate geopolitical tensions and sustainability mandates in aviation.