Vertical Aerospace announces Mark Higson as COO, other executive appointments

Vertical Aerospace (EVTL) announced the addition of executives to its leadership team. Mark Higson joins as COO. He has over four decades of experience across international businesses, most recently serving as CEO of Modulaire Group, a provider of modular services and infrastructure. He started his career at British Aerospace subsequently serving in senior operational leadership roles across the industrials sector, including at Wolseley UK and the Royal Mail, and as a senior advisor to McKinsey & Company and to Advent International’s portfolio companies. Steve Vellacott joins as VP of Airworthiness & Head of Design Organisation. He joins Vertical from Lilium where he was CTO and Head of Design. Prior to Lilium, he spent over three decades at Leonardo Helicopters. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 2018. Eric Samson named as VP Programme-Hybrid. Since joining Vertical in 2020, he has served as SVP of Engineering and Head of Design Organisation. Prior to Vertical, Eric held various technical and leadership roles, including at Jet Aviation and Gulfstream Aerospace.