Stuart Simpson, joined Vertical Aerospace in September 2023. Previously, he served as Group CFO of Avast, a FTSE 100 company, before and during its merger with NortonLifeLock. Stuart previously held the roles of Interim CEO, CFO and COO at Royal Mail, also a FTSE 100 company. Prior to this, Stuart had a long history in the automotive industry, working for General Motors and Rolls Royce and Bentley Motor Car Company.

Mark Higson is a seasoned executive with significant expertise in developing operational and commercial strategies, leading complex, global organisations through transformational change. He has over four decades of experience across international businesses, most recently serving as Chief Executive Officer of Modulaire Group, a global leader in modular services and infrastructure, where he successfully led the sale and refinancing of the business. Originally an Aerospace Engineer, Mark started his career at British Aerospace subsequently serving in senior operational leadership roles across the industrials sector, including at Wolseley UK and the Royal Mail, and as a senior advisor to McKinsey & Company and to Advent International’s portfolio companies.

Michael Cervenka is Chief Commercial & Technology Officer of Vertical Aerospace, having joined the company in June 2019. Prior to joining Vertical, from September 2015 to June 2019, Mr. Cervenka served as the Head of Future Business Technologies at Rolls-Royce, a leading aerospace and defense company. Mr. Cervenka also served in a number of different roles at Rolls-Royce, including as Program Lead (Civil Large Engine Cost Transformation Program) from March 2014 to August 2018 and Chief Development Engineer (Civil Large Fleet Engines) from November 2010 to February 2014. Mr. Cervenka has over 20 years of civil and military aerospace experience at Rolls-Royce. Mr. Cervenka participated in the Executive Leadership Program at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth from 2018 to 2019. Mr. Cervenka also holds a Bachelor of Engineering (First Honors) in Aeronautical Engineering from Bristol University. Mr. Cervenka is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.

Sanjay Verma is an experienced legal professional currently serving as General Counsel at Vertical Aerospace since January 2022. Prior to this role, Sanjay held multiple positions at OVO from May 2018 to January 2022, including General Counsel, Group Legal Director for OVO Group, and Head of Legal for OVO Energy. Sanjay also served as General Counsel at Kaluza from July 2020 to January 2022 and as Senior Legal Director for EMEA & LATAM at Cognizant from August 2012 to May 2018. Sanjay began a legal career at Pinsent Masons, working as a Senior Associate from August 2004 to August 2012. Sanjay earned an LLB in Law from University College London between 1998 and 2001.

Trevor Woods is an experienced aviation professional currently serving as the Director of Regulatory Affairs at Vertical Aerospace since April 2022. As a consultant at Trevor Woods Ltd since March 2019, services provided focus on aviation and safety management. Previously, Trevor held significant roles at the European Aviation Safety Agency from January 2012 to January 2019, including Certification Director and Flight Standards Director. Prior experience also includes Chief Operating Officer at Air Safety Support International Limited, where responsibilities encompassed air safety regulation and support for UK Overseas Territories. Throughout a long tenure at the Civil Aviation Authority from October 1986 to November 2007, Trevor was involved in various leadership positions, including Head of Strategy, Policy and Standards, and Head of UK Aeroplanes and Rotorcraft Certification. Early career experience includes work as a Senior Future Projects Engineer at British Aerospace Military Division. Trevor holds a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from Kingston University.

Martyn Ashford is Programme Director at Vertical Aerospace, having joined as Head of Aircraft Programmes – Development in June 2024. Martyn has extensive experience in Civil and Military programmes across both crewed and uncrewed domains. Prior to Vertical Aerospace, Martyn spent over 27 years as an Executive at Leonardo, leading various programs and products across Leonardo and its Helicopter Division, including his most recent roles as Head of UK Future Programmes, Program Director – Next Generation Civil TiltRotor, and Head of Product Improvement & Engineering Planning and Control. Martyn studied Aerospace Design, Management and Manufacturing at University of Bristol.

Martyn is a Fellow of the RAeS and a Member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Eric is a proven aerospace leader with extensive experience in aircraft design and systems integration. Since joining Vertical in 2020, he has served as Senior Vice President of Engineering and Head of Design Organisation, leading Vertical’s Engineering and Design Organisation to design, build, test and prepare to certify the VX4. Prior to Vertical, Eric held various technical and leadership roles, including at Jet Aviation and Gulfstream Aerospace.

Steve Vellacott brings decades of experience in structural engineering and design, including significant expertise leading electric and other complex VTOL programmes. He joins Vertical from Lilium where he was Chief Technology Officer and Head of Design, overseeing the team responsible for the design, development and certification of its eVTOL aircraft. Prior to Lilium, Steve spent over three decades at Leonardo Helicopters, holding a variety of leadership roles across its international civil and military programmes, where he worked closely with EASA around certification and compliance of the aircraft. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 2018.

Simon Davies is Chief Test Pilot and joined Vertical in 2020. Mr. Davies is a Cat 1 Test Pilot (USNTPS), Flight Instructor and eVTOL pilot with over 25 years flying experience. Mr. Davies has 3,000 hours in >70 types, including aeroplanes, helicopters, eVTOL aircraft, airships, gliders, and drones/remotely-piloted aircraft. Mr. Davies studied Aerospace Engineering at University of Cambridge and enrolled in the UK Royal Air Force thereafter. spending 16 years as a fast jet pilot, instructor and examiner. Mr. Davies trained as a test pilot with the U.S. Navy at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland, Pax River.

Jenny leads Procurement and Supply Chain at Vertical Aerospace after joining the company in May 2021 as a Supply Chain Executive. Jenny has vast experience leading global cross-functional teams, transformation programs, new product introduction, and supplier ramp-up. Prior to Vertical Aerospace, Jenny was a Supply Chain Executive at Rolls-Royce where she spent over 16 years in Supply Chain & Procurement, Program Production and Manufacturing.

Jenny attended the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

Ross Crawford is Director of Operations and Manufacturing at Vertical Aerospace. Ross joined Vertical Aerospace in October 2021 and has been Head of Battery Facility and Battery Manufacturing and Facilities Manager. Ross has extensive experience in early-stage manufacturing ramp ups, including at Jaguar Land Rover, where he served as Global Facility Strategy Manager for over four years prior to joining Vertical Aerospace. Prior to Jaguar Land Rover, Ross spent over nine years at GE Power Conversion and started his career at Marconi. Ross holds a Master of Engineering in Manufacturing Engineering from University of Warwick.