Airbus Names Dumont Chief Engineer for Commercial Aircraft

Airbus has appointed Jean-Brice Dumont, currently head of engineering at Airbus Helicopters, as head of engineering at Airbus Commercial Aircraft, following the decision by Charles Champion, 61, to retire by the end of this year. Dumont, 45, will join Airbus on September 1 and assume responsibilities from Champion in December following a transition phase. He will become a member of the Airbus Commercial Aircraft Management Committee.

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to Charles Champion for his outstanding contribution to Airbus throughout his career,” said Tom Enders, Airbus chief executive officer. “Since he joined Aérospatiale in 1980, he has been engaged in almost every aspect of the business from manufacturing to programs, sales to customer services and, in the latter years, engineering. Airbus owes much to his experience, commitment and energy. I wish him all the best for his personal future.”

Alain Flourens, 59, currently head of the A380 program within Airbus Commercial Aircraft, has agreed to succeed Dumont at Airbus Helicopters. Flourens will join Airbus Helicopters on July 1 and take over from Dumont as of September. Flourens will become a member of the Executive Committee of Airbus Helicopters. Airbus said it would name his successor as A380 program head later.

“After 10 years of heading the A380 program, Alain Flourens has been instrumental in putting the A380 program on a stable trajectory, with breakeven now achieved over the last two consecutive years,” said Fabrice Brégier, president of Airbus Commercial Aircraft. “I wish to thank him on behalf of everyone at Airbus for this.”

With two decades of industry experience, Dumont has served as executive vice president of engineering as well as chief technical officer since 2012 at Airbus Helicopters. Dumont joined the company in February 2004, working as engineer and development project manager for the NH90 program, before becoming NH90 chief engineer and NH Industries’ technical director from 2008 to 2012. 

Flourens became executive vice president and head of the A380 program in 2008, following assignments as head of the single-aisle program, a post he had held since September 2006, and executive vice president and head of the Airbus Centers of Excellence, since 2005. In 1990 he joined Aérospatiale’s aircraft division in Toulouse, became production manager in Nantes and in 1993 managing director at the company’s St Eloi factory.