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CHAIRMAN AND CEO, AIRBUS AMERICAS, HERNDON
CHAIRMAN AND CEO, AIRBUS AMERICAS, HERNDON
Virginia Business// August 30, 2023//
As head of Airbus’ Americas arm, Knittel runs the European aerospace giant’s commercial aircraft business for North and South America, as well as its helicopter and defense units. He also chairs Acubed, Airbus’ Silicon Valley-based innovation arm, and serves on the board of Airbus Ventures, the company’s VC firm for early-stage technologies. Before coming aboard Airbus Americas in 2018, Knittel was president of CIT Transportation & International Finance, until its purchase in 2017 by Avolon.
Airbus is a direct competitor of Arlington-based Boeing, as the two largest commercial airplane manufacturers in the world. In May, Airbus assembled its 100th A320 family jet at its plant in Mobile, Alabama, and Knittel said then he expects to hire 300 to 400 more people by the end of the year, for a total of about 2,000 employees. The company aims to deliver 720 planes this year.
Knittel earned his bachelor’s degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and graduated from the Advanced Management Program of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
