ATR has appointed Damien Proust as Senior Vice-President Engineering and Head of Design Organisation, effective May 1. Proust joins from Airbus, where he served as vice-president and head of propulsion airframe.
This leadership change signals an engineering overhaul at the turboprop manufacturer, directly supporting its hybrid-electric aircraft development. ATR aims to accelerate sustainable regional aviation amid rising demand for low-emission propulsion.
Based in Toulouse, Proust will oversee ATR’s design organisation, critical for certifying next-generation aircraft. His Airbus tenure focused on propulsion-airframe integration, aligning with ATR’s goals for hybrid-electric systems that reduce fuel burn and emissions.
The appointment strengthens ATR’s technical capabilities as operators prioritize greener fleets. It positions the company to compete in the regional market, where hybrid propulsion could cut operating costs by up to 30% on short routes.
Proust’s expertise in advanced materials and decarbonization, highlighted in recent industry forums, bolsters ATR’s innovation pipeline. The move comes as ATR expands its engineering team to meet regulatory and market demands for sustainable connectivity.