Vertical Aerospace appointed former Airbus Commercial Aircraft division chief executive Fabrice Bregier as chair of its board on Monday, as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft makers pursue regulatory approvals before commercial launches. The company's shares rose as much as 5.7% in premarket trading. Bregier was president of Palantir Technologies France from 2018 to 2024 and previously served as Airbus' unit chief executive from 2012 to 2018, as well as the group's chief operating officer. At Airbus, he led development of the A350 programme and the company's operational turnaround. Vertical is developing its all-electric, four-passenger piloted Valo aircraft and a hybrid-electric variant intended to provide more range and mission flexibility. The sector is also placing greater emphasis on military applications amid rising defense spending, while commercial development has taken longer than expected. Ben Story, interim chair since May, will remain on the board.