Vertical Aerospace, the U.K.’s leading developer of eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxis, is seeking a new leader following the departure of board chairman Dómhnal Slattery on Tuesday.
Slattery in a post on LinkedIn said that although watching Vertical’s inaugural piloted transition flight in April was “one of the proudest moments of my career,” it was the “right moment for me to step back.” He added that the “next chapter belongs to the team taking Valo”—the company’s flagship air taxi, unveiled in December—“through certification.”
“Your role in guiding the company on delivering key milestones has helped put us in a strong position for the next phase,” Vertical said in a statement Tuesday addressing Slattery’s decision. “We’re grateful for your continued support and look forward to building on this momentum as we take Valo through certification and bring it to market.”
Non-executive board member Benjamin Story will serve as interim chair as the company searches for a permanent replacement.
Keeping Busy
Slattery’s exit is just the latest update in what has been a busy few months for Vertical.
It spent early 2026 touring the U.S. and displaying Valo in cities such as New York and Miami. The start of piloted transition testing in April demonstrated the aircraft’s defining capability—the ability to go from hover to forward flight and back. The manufacturer has since completed several piloted transitions, putting it in the company of U.S. leaders such as Joby Aviation and Beta Technologies.
Vertical in April secured a financing package worth up to $800 million in addition to $50 million previously raised, giving it plenty of funds to complete its certification program by 2028. The company is also contending with a lawsuit from rival Archer Aviation, which alleges uncanny similarities between the manufacturers’ flagship designs.
“Five years ago, Vertical Aerospace was a handful of people and an ambition,” Slattery said. “Today, it sits at the forefront of the global eVTOL sector—a category-leading aircraft, the strongest order book in the industry, a financial package of up to $850 million closed, and a world-first piloted transition flight complete.”
Slattery previously served as Vertical’s chair from January 2022 to August 2023, returning to the role in early 2025. Before that, he was the founding CEO of Avolon and was CEO of RBS Aviation Capital (now SMBC Aviation Capital) from 2001-04, later serving as chairman. Both Avolon and SMBC are among the world’s largest aircraft lessors.
Story was formerly on the board of Transport for London, the local government entity that manages the city’s public transportation, as well as Citigroup, Rolls-Royce, and ITP Aero. He was also previously a managing director for Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank.
“I have no doubt the company will thrive under his guidance while a permanent chair is appointed,” Slattery said.
