Guillaume Faury

Guillaume Faury
Faury in 2023
Guillaume Faury
Born	22 2, 1968
Birthplace	Cherbourg-Octeville, France
Nationality	French
Occupation	Aerospace executive, engineer
Title	CEO of Airbus SE (2019–present)
Known for	CEO of Airbus SE
Education	École polytechnique Supaéro IAE Aix-en-Provence, Aix-Marseille University
Spouse(s)	Maria Faury
Children	3
Website	[Airbus Corporate Governance Official site]

Guillaume Faury (Template:IPA-fr; born 22 February 1968) is a French engineer and business executive who has served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Airbus SE and chairman of its civil aircraft division, Airbus SAS, since April 2019. Born in Cherbourg-Octeville, France, Faury rose through the ranks of the European aerospace industry over a career spanning more than two decades, holding leadership positions at Eurocopter (later Airbus Helicopters) and within the broader Airbus group before being appointed to lead one of the world's largest aerospace and defence companies. A graduate of two of France's most prestigious engineering institutions — École polytechnique and Supaéro — Faury brought deep technical expertise to the executive suite, having begun his career as a flight test engineer and later serving in France's defence procurement agency. His tenure as Airbus CEO has been marked by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing supply chain disruptions, ambitious production ramp-up targets for the company's best-selling A320neo family, and strategic decisions regarding European defence programmes including the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). He is also a member of the European Round Table for Industry.

Early Life

Guillaume Faury was born on 22 February 1968 in Cherbourg-Octeville, a port city in the Normandy region of northwestern France. Details of his family background and upbringing have not been extensively documented in public sources. His subsequent educational path, however, reflected an early aptitude for science and engineering, leading him to pursue studies at some of France's most competitive academic institutions.

Education

Faury attended the École polytechnique, one of France's Grandes écoles and among the country's most selective engineering schools, known for producing leaders in science, industry, and government. He subsequently studied at Supaéro (now part of the Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace, or ISAE-SUPAERO) in Toulouse, France's leading graduate school of aerospace engineering. These two institutions provided Faury with a rigorous foundation in both general engineering and specialised aeronautical science. Later in his career, Faury also completed a programme at IAE Aix-en-Provence, the graduate school of management at Aix-Marseille University, adding a business and management dimension to his technical education.

Career

Early Career and Eurocopter

After completing his engineering education, Faury began his professional career in the French defence sector. He worked as a flight test engineer, gaining hands-on technical experience with rotary-wing aircraft. He also served within France's Direction générale de l'Armement (DGA), the country's defence procurement and technology agency, where he was involved in the development and testing of military helicopter programmes.

Faury joined Eurocopter (which later became Airbus Helicopters), the helicopter manufacturing division of the Airbus group, where he held progressively senior roles. His experience in flight testing and programme management positioned him as a strong technical leader within the organisation. He eventually rose to become CEO of Eurocopter/Airbus Helicopters, leading the company through a period of rebranding and integration into the wider Airbus corporate structure.

As head of Airbus Helicopters, Faury oversaw one of the world's largest helicopter manufacturers, responsible for both civil and military rotorcraft programmes. His leadership at the helicopter division gave him broad experience across the aerospace value chain, from research and development to manufacturing, sales, and customer support.

President of Airbus Commercial Aircraft

Faury's track record at Airbus Helicopters led to his appointment as president of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, the group's largest division by revenue, responsible for the design, manufacture, and sale of the company's range of commercial jetliners including the A220, A320, A330, and A350 families. In this role, Faury was responsible for the operational performance of the commercial aircraft business, including managing the industrial ramp-up of the A320neo family, which had become the best-selling single-aisle aircraft programme in aviation history.

His appointment to lead the commercial aircraft division came during a period of significant challenge and change at Airbus. The company was dealing with the fallout from corruption and bribery investigations, which had prompted leadership changes at the highest levels of the organisation. Faury's technical background and reputation for competence made him a candidate seen as capable of providing stability and focus on operational execution during a turbulent period.

CEO of Airbus SE

On 8 October 2018, the Airbus Board of Directors announced the selection of Guillaume Faury as the future CEO of Airbus SE, succeeding Tom Enders, who had announced he would not seek a further term. Faury formally took the helm in April 2019, becoming only the second CEO of the reorganised Airbus SE (following the merger of the former Airbus Group's divisions under a single corporate identity).

Upon taking office, Faury faced a number of strategic decisions. Industry analysts noted that among the most consequential were choices about the future of the A320 programme — whether to develop a successor aircraft or continue incremental improvements — as well as the management of the company's defence and space businesses and navigating the resolution of the ongoing bribery and corruption settlement.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Recovery

Shortly after Faury assumed the CEO role, the global COVID-19 pandemic struck the aviation industry with unprecedented force beginning in early 2020. Airlines worldwide grounded fleets, deferred deliveries, and cancelled orders as passenger traffic plummeted. Faury led Airbus through a period of dramatic production cuts, reducing output of the A320 family by roughly one-third and implementing cost-reduction measures across the company, including significant workforce reductions. Under his leadership, Airbus adapted its operations to pandemic conditions while seeking to preserve the company's long-term industrial capabilities and supplier base.

As the aviation industry began to recover from the pandemic, Faury pivoted to an aggressive production ramp-up strategy, setting ambitious targets to increase A320neo family output to meet surging demand from airlines seeking to renew their fleets with more fuel-efficient aircraft. This ramp-up, however, has been constrained by persistent supply chain challenges, particularly in the availability of engines and other key components from suppliers.

Supply Chain Challenges and Production Targets

By 2025 and into 2026, supply chain bottlenecks remained a central challenge of Faury's tenure. In February 2026, Airbus announced its guidance for the year, targeting 870 aircraft deliveries — a figure that fell below analyst expectations and contributed to a decline in the company's share price.

Faury was outspoken in attributing a significant portion of the production constraints to engine supply issues. During the company's full-year 2025 earnings call in February 2026, Faury stated publicly that Pratt & Whitney's engine delivery outlook for 2026 was "significantly behind their previous commitments," describing the situation as "unsatisfactory." Aviation Week reported that Faury used the earnings call to criticise Pratt & Whitney's performance, highlighting the gap between the engine manufacturer's commitments and actual delivery reality.

The engine supply issue has had direct implications for Airbus's ability to meet its production ramp-up targets for the A320neo family, which is available with a choice of engines from Pratt & Whitney (the PW1000G geared turbofan) or CFM International (the LEAP). The situation has forced Airbus to adjust its delivery forecasts and has been a recurring theme in Faury's public communications with investors and media.

FCAS and Defence Strategy

A significant aspect of Faury's leadership has involved Airbus's role in European defence programmes, most notably the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a multibillion-euro programme to develop a next-generation fighter jet and associated unmanned systems for France, Germany, and Spain. Airbus represents the German and Spanish industrial interests in the programme, while Dassault Aviation leads on behalf of France.

By early 2026, the FCAS programme had become mired in disagreements between the industrial partners over workshare, technology transfer, and programme leadership. In February 2026, Faury publicly signalled Airbus's openness to an alternative approach, suggesting that the programme could potentially proceed with two fighter jet variants rather than a single design, in order to keep the programme alive and prevent the deadlock from jeopardising what he described as a critical European capability.

Faury went further on 20 February 2026, stating that Airbus was capable of developing a fighter jet independently if necessary. Speaking as tensions with Dassault deepened, Faury said he hoped Europe could continue to co-develop the new fighter but added that his company was "ready for any scenario." Reports indicated that Airbus would support a proposal to build two new European fighters if the participating countries decided to pursue that path.

These statements marked a notable escalation in the public discourse surrounding FCAS and positioned Faury as an assertive advocate for Airbus's defence ambitions, while also reflecting the broader political dynamics of European defence industrial cooperation.

Leadership Style and Strategic Priorities

Analysts have characterised Faury as a leader with strong technical credentials who brought an engineering-focused approach to the CEO role. FlightGlobal noted upon his appointment to lead the commercial aircraft division that he was "strong on technology," reflecting his background in flight testing and helicopter development. His tenure as CEO has been defined by the dual challenge of managing the post-pandemic recovery of the commercial aviation market while simultaneously addressing long-term strategic questions about decarbonisation, digital transformation, and European defence sovereignty.

Under Faury's leadership, Airbus has pursued research into sustainable aviation technologies, including hydrogen-powered aircraft concepts, and has set targets for increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuel across its operations. The company has also continued to invest in its space and defence businesses alongside the dominant commercial aircraft division.

Personal Life

Guillaume Faury is married to Maria Faury, and the couple have three children. Details of his private life are not widely documented in public sources, consistent with the relatively low personal profile maintained by many European industrial executives.

In December 2022, Faury was included on the guest list for the state dinner hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House in honour of French President Emmanuel Macron, reflecting his standing as one of France's most prominent business leaders and the importance of Airbus's transatlantic operations and relationships.

Faury is a member of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), a forum of chief executives and chairs of major European multinational companies that engages with European policymakers on economic and industrial policy.

Recognition

Faury's role as CEO of Airbus, one of the world's two dominant commercial aircraft manufacturers and a major European defence contractor, places him among the most prominent figures in global aerospace. His invitation to the December 2022 White House state dinner for French President Macron underscored his prominence in Franco-American business relations.

He has been the subject of interviews and profiles in major international media outlets, including The Times, which profiled him as "Airbus's pilot amid the dark clouds," reflecting the challenges he has navigated during his tenure.

His membership in the European Round Table for Industry further reflects his position within the upper echelons of European business leadership, alongside the CEOs and chairs of other major multinational corporations.

Legacy

As of early 2026, Faury's legacy remains in formation, as he continues to serve as CEO of Airbus. His tenure has been defined by a series of extraordinary challenges — the COVID-19 pandemic, persistent supply chain disruptions, and complex European defence politics — as well as by the company's continued commercial dominance in the single-aisle aircraft market.

Faury's willingness to publicly confront suppliers, as demonstrated by his February 2026 criticism of Pratt & Whitney's engine delivery performance, has signalled a more assertive public posture for Airbus in managing its industrial partnerships. Similarly, his statements regarding Airbus's readiness to develop a fighter jet independently if the FCAS programme cannot be resolved through cooperation have positioned the company as a more autonomous actor in European defence policy.

The decisions made during Faury's tenure regarding production rates, new aircraft programmes, and defence strategy are expected to shape Airbus's trajectory for decades. Whether Airbus succeeds in ramping up A320neo production to rates of 75 or more aircraft per month, whether a next-generation single-aisle aircraft is launched, and whether FCAS produces a viable European fighter system are questions that will ultimately define the long-term assessment of his leadership.