ZeroAvia bolsters executive team

James McMicking joins as ZeroAvia’s first Vice President of Strategy from the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) – the body in charge of developing the technology strategy for the UK aerospace sector. As one of the original executives to set up the ATI, McMicking held several positions throughout the business over 7 years, including its Head of Strategy and Operations.

A mechanical engineer by training, McMicking brings experience covering advanced R&D, business and innovation strategy, and transformation. At the ATI, McMicking worked extensively with organisations throughout the aerospace tech sector and UK Government to support world-class research and development, navigate complex strategic challenges and catalyse innovation.

At ZeroAvia, McMicking is now responsible for building a strategic roadmap for the business, both from a commercial and technical point of view to reach its 2024 target, working in collaboration with CEO, Val Miftakhov, and the rest of the executive team.

Meanwhile, Arnab Chatterjee also joins the business as Vice President of Infrastructure. Prior to ZeroAvia, Chatterjee spent almost a decade at Shell working on low carbon fuel, digital, e-mobility, and renewable energy solutions in a range of technical, commercial and strategy roles. Most recently, he has been driving Shell's efforts in hydrogen at a global scale. Chatterjee has a background in chemical product development, venture investments and corporate development. He has a PhD in electrochemistry from the University of Oxford.

At ZeroAvia, Chatterjee will be responsible for working with aviation and energy industry partners to deliver the hydrogen production and refuelling infrastructure required to support the adoption of hydrogen-electric propulsion.

In addition, joining ZeroAvia’s advisory board is Jim Peterson. An expert in propulsion integration, Peterson brings over 35 years of experience from his time at Boeing where he was Chief Engineer of Propulsion, responsible for integrating engines into various Boeing airframes.

The executive and advisory board additions bookend an enormously successful year for ZeroAvia. Beyond being named one of the world's most innovative companies by Fast Company and a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, the company made significant strides on its R&D. It completed 35 test flights of its six-seat prototype, part of the UK Government-backed HyFlyer I project.

The company also ramped up work on the HyFlyer II project, focused on delivering its commercial entry product, a 600 kW hydrogen-electric powertrain for 10 – 20 seat aircraft. In September 2021, ZeroAvia welcomed its Dornier 228 testbed aircraft to its new base at Cotswold Airport, immediately beginning work to install its powertrain technology, and the team is already well advanced in preparation for flight testing early in 2022.

ZeroAvia raised over US$70 million in 2021, taking the total to US$115 million, with the most recent round of US$35 million announced in December 2021. The company also increased its headcount to nearly 100 employees globally.

ZeroAvia also announced several highly significant commercial deals throughout 1Q21, amounting to more than 460 commitments for hydrogen-electric engines and several important joint development programmes. In the 2H21, ZeroAvia also cemented a number of deals, including an intention to develop one of the world’s first commercial zero-emission routes from London to Rotterdam the Hague Airport, investment and purchase options from airlines such as Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, and partnerships with a variety of aviation players such as De Havilland of Canada, Rose Cay, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, ASL Aviation Holdings, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Regional Jet division. The total number of engines (excluding spares) for in service or stored aircraft produced by the OEMs that ZeroAvia has signed deals with stands at over 7000, showing the scale of the opportunity.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/special-reports/22122021/zeroavia-bolsters-executive-team/