Excerpt: European missile maker MBDA appoints Airbus executive Jean-Brice Dumont as chief executive, with the leadership change taking effect November 1.
European missile manufacturer MBDA has appointed Airbus executive Jean-Brice Dumont as its next chief executive, effective November 1, as the company ramps up missile production to meet rising defence demand across Europe.
Dumont will replace Eric Béranger, who is stepping down after leading the company during a period of heightened demand driven by the war in Ukraine and increased defence spending across the continent.
Currently Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space, Dumont has led the division since January 2024. Before assuming the role, he headed Airbus’ Military Air Systems business, overseeing major defence programmes, including the A400M military transport aircraft, the Eurofighter combat jet, and the Eurodrone project.
Earlier in his career, Dumont held several senior engineering positions at Airbus, including Executive Vice President for Engineering. He also served as Executive Vice President for Engineering and Chief Technical Officer at Airbus Helicopters, where he helped advance the company’s aerospace and defence technologies.
A qualified pilot with the French Army’s aviation branch, Dumont began his career in 1996 at France’s Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), contributing to the Tiger attack helicopter and Super Puma helicopter programmes.
He is a graduate of École Polytechnique and ISAE-SUPAERO, two of France’s leading engineering institutions. MBDA said his extensive leadership experience in military aviation and defence programmes positions him to guide the company through its next phase of growth as Europe continues to strengthen its defence capabilities.
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