Vertical seeks new chair as Domhnal Slattery departs

Former Avolon chief ends second stint at UK eVTOL developer.

Vertical Aerospace is seeking a new chair following the resignation of incumbent Domhnal Slattery, effective 12 May.

Slattery, formerly chief executive of lessor Avolon, has served two stints as Vertical’s chair: from January 2022 until August 2023, and latterly since January 2025.

He is stepping down to “focus on other business interests” Vertical states. It has appointed board member Ben Story as interim chair while it seeks a permanent successor.

Writing on LinkedIn, Slattery praises Vertical’s transformation from “a handful of people and an ambition” five years ago into one of the leading lights of the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) sector.

“With Vertical in this position of strength, it feels like the right moment for me to step back as chair,” he says. “The next chapter belongs to the team taking Valo through certification.”

Slattery’s departure caps a busy four weeks for Vertical in which it has achieved a two-way piloted transition flight with its VX4 prototype and secured a $850 million funding package.