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Electra Appoints Ex-Boeing Executive as CEO

Boeing former chief strategy officer B. Marc Allen, who held an array of positions with the company for more than a decade, will lead the hybrid-electric aircraft manufacturer.

Friday, August 30, 2024 at 03:42 PM ET

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Ex-Boeing executive B. Marc Allen (right) replaces Electra founder and chairman John Langford as CEO. [Courtesy: Electra]

Key Takeaways:

Former high-ranking Boeing executive B. Marc Allen has been appointed CEO of Electra, a startup specializing in hybrid-electric ultra short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft.
Allen brings significant aerospace leadership experience to Electra, a company aiming to revolutionize air travel with aircraft that require minimal runway space (e.g., 150 feet) and operate without traditional airports, emissions, or noise.
Electra's innovative aircraft, which use a blown-lift architecture for enhanced lift, have garnered substantial interest and contracts from U.S. military branches and NASA, and the company has surpassed 2,000 commercial orders.
The company has successfully completed key test flights of its demonstrator aircraft and aims to achieve FAA certification and commercial introduction by 2028.

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B. Marc Allen, who held an array of senior leadership positions at Boeing and its subsidiaries between 2007 and 2023, is taking the reins of a smaller company building aircraft that require only the space of a soccer field to take off and land.

Hybrid-electric ultra short aircraft manufacturer Electra, which is backed by investors such as Lockheed Martin and Honeywell, on Friday announced Allen’s appointment as CEO. The former Boeing executive will lead the company as it develops an FAA-certified Part 23 aircraft with a runway requirement of just 150 feet for both airline and helicopter operators.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.