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Joby Aviation’s Aircraft Operations Head Resigns
Didier Papadopoulos Cites Personal Reasons
Air taxi maker Joby Aviation Inc. said one of its top executives intends to step down before the planned start of commercial passenger service expected as soon as this year.
The Santa Cruz, Calif.-based company said in a securities filing April 22 that Didier Papadopoulos, its president of aircraft operations, is resigning on July 3 for personal reasons. It said his decision wasn’t based on any “disagreement or dispute” with the company.
Backed by car giant Toyota Motor Corp., Joby is among a handful of startups developing eVTOL aircraft — electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles — to fly customers on short commuter journeys via battery-powered air taxis. Full certification for commercial flight operations by the Federal Aviation Administration and regulators in other countries is still pending.
Joby previously said it aimed to start commercial passenger services in Dubai by early this year, but the exact timeline is unclear. It has pushed back earlier goals to begin service from 2024 and then 2025.
Toyota, which became Joby’s largest shareholder last year, is considering a strategic manufacturing alliance between the two companies ahead of a planned production ramp-up.
