On Tuesday, 14 April 2026, the 2026 Annual General Meeting of European group Airbus SE was held in Amsterdam. It was announced that all proposed resolutions had been approved, confirming the group’s strong position across all of its business sectors after a breakthrough year in 2025.
Image: Airbus SE
Among the approved resolutions was, among other things, the extension of the mandates of the non-executive members of the Board of Directors: Mark Dunkerley, Stephan Gemkow, and Antony Wood, each for a three-year term.
In addition, Henriette Hallberg Thygesen, Chief Executive Officer of the Danish defense and space company Terma A/S, was appointed to the Board of Directors for a three-year term. She will replace Prof. Dr. Feiyu Xu, whose mandate expired at the close of the Annual General Meeting. The Board of Directors expressed its appreciation for Prof. Dr. Feiyu Xu’s contributions in technological fields such as digitalization and artificial intelligence.
Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, was also appointed as a non-executive member of the Board of Directors. His initial term will last one year and is intended to complete the remainder of Victor Chu’s mandate, after Chu requested to step down at the end of this year’s AGM following eight years of distinguished service to the company.
Airbus Board members are subject to annual (re-)election in blocks in order to ensure smooth renewal of the Board’s composition. This avoids a situation in which a large number of members leave at the same Annual General Meeting, which could result in a loss of experience and difficulties in integrating new members.
Shareholders also approved the payment of a dividend for 2025 in the amount of 3.20 EUR per share.
René Obermann, Chairman of the Board of Directors, informed the Board of his decision not to seek a new term as a Board member at the 2027 Annual General Meeting, when his current mandate expires.
Effective 1 October 2026, René Obermann will step down as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board has designated Amparo Moraleda as his successor in that position as of that date.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve Airbus for nearly a decade, during a period that has constantly tested the resilience of the entire Company, while also demonstrating the collective strength of Team Airbus. The Company has established itself as a leader in civil aviation, including helicopters, and has successfully reshaped its Defence and Space division,” said René Obermann. “I am thankful to our shareholders and customers for placing their trust in Airbus during this time. I am confident in the Company’s future financial performance and industrial trajectory, with a highly experienced Board, a strong management team and a highly committed team of 165,000 colleagues.”
“I am grateful to the Board for their trust and look forward to working with René over the coming months to ensure a smooth succession. I would like to commend him for his diligent stewardship on the Board during a period marked by major crises, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions and a worsening geopolitical environment,” said Amparo Moraleda. “My commitment to serving the Company and its shareholders is total. I will work closely with my fellow Board members and the management team to ensure that Airbus is well equipped to address the many challenges and opportunities stemming from the rapid changes in our global environment.”
Airbus announces results of 2026 Annual General Meetinghttps://t.co/SgTRxhMRQa
— Airbus Newsroom (@AirbusPRESS) April 14, 2026
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