Günter Butschek has been appointed as Airbus’s executive vice president (EVP) operations, effective from March 1. Butschek will replace current EVP Gerald Weber, and will also become chairman of the board of management of Airbus in Germany (Airbus Operations GmbH).
Butschek, 50, comes from an automotive background, where has had more than 25 years of experience in this field, overseeing roles in production, industrialisation and procurement of vehicles. He has worked for several subsidiary companies of Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler and Mitsubishi, having recently left his position as president and CEO of Bejing Benz Automotive Co, of which its parent company, Beijing Automotive Industrial Holding Corp, is a joint venture partner with Daimler AG.
Airbus president and CEO Tom Enders said in a statement that he welcomed Butschek to Airbus, and highlighted his industrial expertise as of importance to producing Airbus’s new A350 XWB aircraft. “His enthusiasm and global experience in managing operations and introducing new industrial concepts will bring significant additional value to Airbus. He is the right man to lead the start of the serial production of the A350 XWB, which is of the highest importance for Airbus.”
