Vertical Announces Appointment of Former McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt to its Board

• Flewitt brings deep industrial and manufacturing expertise to the Vertical Aerospace Board

• Follows news of industry-first pre-delivery payment commitment from American Airlines and further conditional pre-orders of Vertical’s VX4 from FLYINGGROUP

Vertical Aerospace , a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering zero emissions aviation, announces the appointment of former McLaren Automotive CEO, Mike Flewitt, to the Board of Directors (the “Vertical Board”). An experienced leader in the world of automotive innovation and manufacturing, Mike further strengthens Vertical’s leadership team which draws from industry experts in aviation, automotive and technology sectors. Mike will join the Board’s Audit and Certification Committees.

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“Mike is a fantastic appointment for Vertical; he knows how to build and grow highly complex and technical businesses having worked in both the high-volume and the super-luxury segments of automotive. He will be invaluable to the business as we continue our journey to make zero emissions aviation a reality.”

Mike is joining the Vertical Board having stepped down from McLaren Automotive in October 2021 after eight years leading the group. Mike was instrumental in driving McLaren Automotive’s growth to become one of the world’s leading luxury supercar brands.

Prior to joining McLaren, Mike spent nine years at Ford as both Vice President, Manufacturing, Ford Europe, and Corporate Officer, Ford Motor Company. Before joining Ford, he held senior manufacturing and operations roles at TWR Group Limited, AutoNova AB (Volvo) and Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor Cars Limited. He is an alumnus of Salford University having qualified in Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering in 1987, completed a post-graduate qualification in Management and Project Management in 1996 and received an Honorary Doctorate from the institution in 2017.

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Today’s announcement, during Farnborough International Airshow, follows a series of new Vertical announcements and partnerships. Recent announcements include American Airlines confirming delivery slots and the commitment of associated pre-delivery payments, as well as 50 conditional pre-orders from FLYINGGROUP, taking Vertical’s industry-leading pre-order book by value to more 1,400 VX4s amounting to approximately $5.6bn in expected revenue. This is in addition to partnerships with Babcock International for the exploration of applications of the VX4 within Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and a strategic partnership with Molicel as its battery provider.

Domhnal Slattery, Chairman, Vertical added: “I am delighted to welcome Mike to the Board, and I look forward to working alongside him. His experience across the automotive industry will be critical to the next phases of our journey, playing a key role in enabling the commercialisation of our revolutionary VX4 aircraft.”

Stephen Fitzpatrick, Founder & CEO, Vertical, said “Mike is a fantastic appointment for Vertical; he knows how to build and grow highly complex and technical businesses having worked in both the high-volume and the super-luxury segments of automotive. He will be invaluable to the business as we continue our journey to make zero emissions aviation a reality.“

Michael Flewitt, Non-Executive Director, said: “It is an exciting time to join Vertical Aerospace. Vertical is at the forefront of innovation in the aviation industry, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside the team in their efforts to grow, progress, and lead the change in zero emissions flight. Stephen has assembled a passionate and talented team and I look forward to playing a part towards this continued success.”

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