US-based electric short take-off and landing aircraft developer Electra.aero has appointed Marc Allen as its new CEO.
John Langford, Electra’s founder is to step down as CEO but will continue to serve as its chairman, focusing on long-term strategy and innovation.
Allen joins Electra from Boeing, where he was most recently chief strategy officer and senior vice president for strategy and corporate development.
He led Boeing’s US$5 billion customer finance business before spending nearly a decade on Boeing’s Executive Council, where he served as president of Boeing International and oversaw critical enterprise-wide functions.
In addition, as head of all venture businesses he led Boeing’s acquisition of autonomous eVTOL company Wisk Aero and the latter’s restructuring, serving as its Chairman.
Allen’s other roles at Boeing included president of the Embraer Partnership and president of Boeing China. Allen is a graduate of Princeton University and holds a JD from Yale Law School. His early career includes clerking for US Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, co-founding a sports medicine startup, and serving as a business consultant with the Parthenon Group.
“Marc’s background in global business and strategic leadership makes him the ideal choice to guide Electra into its next phase of growth,” said Langford. “With over 2,000 orders for our nine-seat hybrid electric aircraft, we are poised to become a global industrial champion. Electra already has the strongest technical team in the business – and now we have the finance, legal, and operations experience to match.”
“I am excited to join Electra’s first-rate team and help define the next level of air travel connectivity,” said Allen. “My passion has always been about building, coaching, and inspiring high-performing teams. Electra is at the forefront of revolutionizing air travel with its direct aviation model, bringing air travel closer to where we live, work and play – without airports, emissions, or noise. Leading Electra at this pivotal moment is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Electra is developing the production aircraft to carry nine passengers or 2,500 lbs (1,100 kg) of cargo up to 500 miles (800km) while still providing the STOL, austere operations, and low-noise capabilities. Aircraft certification and entry into commercial service under FAA Part 23 regulations is targeted for 2028.
