Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Two leading eVTOL aircraft developers, Wisk Aero and Lilium, have announced changes to their senior leadership teams. The moves come at the start of a year that industry observers say could prove critical to the ability of the advanced air mobility sector’s front-runners to meet their ambitious timelines. Both companies are seeking to&nbsp;bring&nbsp;products to market at a time when accessing&nbsp;new sources of funding could be more challenging.
On January 17, U.S. company Wisk named Boeing executive Brian Yutko as its next CEO. He will take over from Gary Gysin, who is retiring&nbsp;on February 1. 
Gysin has led Wisk since 2019 when the company was established with the backing of leading shareholders Kitty Hawk and Boeing. He has led the development of the sixth-generation eVTOL aircraft, which&nbsp;the company <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-10-02/wisk-aero-unveils-four-seat-autonomous-evtol-air-taxi">unveiled last year</a>, and&nbsp;was instrumental in securing an additional <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-01-24/boeing-bets-big-evtols-450-million-funding-wisk-aero">$450 million investment</a> from Boeing in January 2022.
Yutko is currently Boeing's vice president and chief engineer of sustainability and future mobility. He was previously chief technologist for the U.S. aerospace group's Boeing NeXt business unit and prior to that served as senior vice president of programs at its Aurora Flight Sciences subsidiary.
Lilium Steps Up Industrialization Plan
Germany’s Lilium this week announced internal appointments that will see Oliver Vogelgesang taking over as CFO from Geoffrey Richardson, while Sebastien Borel will become&nbsp;chief commercial officer. Vogelgesang joined the company in July 2021 as senior vice president for finance and controlling, while Borel has been senior vice president commercial since April 2022, and was previously vice president business.
Richardson has been with Lilium since November 2020. As CFO, he was instrumental in securing the start-up’s <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-09-15/lilium-and-archer-head-wall-street-share-flotations">Nasdaq listing</a> in September 2021 and then in raising $119 million in a <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-11-18/lilium-raises-119-million-evtol-aircraft-program-new-share-issue">funding round</a> completed in November 2022. 
According to the company, the next phase of its plans to bring the six-seat <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/lilium-jet">Lilium Jet</a> into commercial service will require its senior leadership team to be co-located in Germany, reporting to newly appointed CEO Klaus Roewe.&nbsp;Richardson is based in California.
Lilium recently completed the third of four audits for its application to secure an EASA design organization approval, with the final audit expected to happen during the first half of this year. The approval is an important prerequisite for <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-03-31/lilium-pushes-projected-evtol-aircraft-type-certification-2025">obtaining type certification</a>. The company intends to build a production-conforming prototype this year that will be&nbsp;ready to start flight testing.
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Read the latest news about German eVTOL developer Lilium.

Charles Alcock

Wisk Aero CEO Gary Gysin is retiring from the eVTOL aircraft developer in February 2022 and will be succeeded by Boeing executive Brian Yutko. (Image: AIN)

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