Chair of Leading U.K. Air Taxi Manufacturer Departs

Dómhnal Slattery said Tuesday that he would step back from his role as chairman of the board.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 02:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Vertical Aerospace’s full-scale air taxi prototype transitions from hover to forward flight at Cotswold Airport (EGBP) in the U.K. in April. [Credit: Vertical Aerospace]

Key Takeaways:

Dómhnal Slattery has stepped down as chairman of Vertical Aerospace, the U.K.’s leading eVTOL developer, with Benjamin Story appointed as interim chair.
Slattery indicated his departure was timely after the company's inaugural piloted transition flight, as the focus now shifts to certifying their flagship air taxi, Valo.
Vertical Aerospace recently secured up to $800 million in financing for its certification program by 2028, completed several pioneering piloted transition flights, but is also contending with a patent lawsuit.

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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.”