Guillaume Faury is a prominent French aerospace engineer and business executive who has served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Airbus SE since April 2019. Born on February 22, 1968, in Cherbourg, Normandy, France, Faury has built an extensive career within the aerospace and automotive sectors, eventually rising to lead one of the world's largest aeronautics and defense corporations. Faury’s academic background established the foundation for his technical leadership. He completed his secondary education at the Lycée François 1er in Le Havre before attending the prestigious École Polytechnique in Paris, where he graduated in 1990. He subsequently pursued specialized training at the École Nationale Supérieure de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (ISAE-SUPAERO) in Toulouse, graduating in 1992. Beyond his academic credentials, Faury is an experienced aviator, holding a light-aircraft pilot's license and having trained as a helicopter flight-test engineer, with over 1,300 hours of flight time. His professional career began in 1992 as a flight-test engineer for the Eurocopter Tiger helicopter program under the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA), the French government agency responsible for the development and procurement of defense systems. In 1998, he transitioned to the private sector, joining Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters). Over the next decade, he held various senior management positions in engineering, program management, and flight testing. His tenure at Eurocopter included roles as Executive Vice President for Programs and as a member of the Executive Committee, as well as Executive Director for Research and Development. Between 2009 and 2013, Faury stepped away from the aerospace industry to join the automotive manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroën. As Executive Vice President for Research and Development and a member of the company's management board, he was instrumental in advancing hybrid-engine technology and overseeing a significant overhaul of the firm's product range. Faury returned to the Airbus group in 2013, assuming the role of CEO of Airbus Helicopters. During this period, he focused on restructuring manufacturing systems and introducing new technological advancements, including the development of the H160 medium helicopter and the pursuit of innovative R&D programs like the CityAirbus and X3 high-speed rotorcraft projects. In February 2018, he was appointed President of Airbus Commercial Aircraft. Following the decision of the Airbus Board of Directors to select him as the successor to outgoing CEO Tom Enders, Faury assumed the role of CEO of Airbus SE on April 10, 2019. As CEO, Faury has led Airbus through significant industrial and global challenges, including the severe disruptions to the aviation sector caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent supply chain stabilization efforts. His strategic tenure has been characterized by a push toward sustainable aviation, with a focus on developing zero-emission aircraft, particularly those utilizing hydrogen propulsion. He has also advocated for the consolidation of the European defense and aerospace supply chain to improve competitiveness and resilience. In addition to his responsibilities at Airbus, Faury has held leadership roles in industry organizations, including the presidency of GIFAS (the French aerospace industries association) and the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD). He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the insurance company AXA SA. Faury is married and has three children, though he generally maintains a private personal life.