Energy, Automobile, EV, Renewable News | Wisk Expands Leadership Team with Addition of Industry Leaders

Wisk Expands Leadership Team with Addition of Industry Leaders

November 30, 2021

New Additions Highlight Wisk’s Growth Trajectory and Adds to Bench of Industry-Leading Talent

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#EverydayFlight–Wisk Aero, a leading Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company and developer of the first all-electric, self-flying air taxi in the U.S., expands its Executive Leadership Team with the addition of Sebastien Vigneron as Senior Vice President of Engineering and Programs and Ricky Robinson as Chief People Officer. The additions highlight Wisk’s growth trajectory and add to the company’s industry-leading talent.

“Wisk has established itself as a leader in the advanced air mobility industry and is on an exciting growth trajectory,” said Gary Gysin, CEO of Wisk. “Our people, combined with our technology, are the keys to our success. The extensive experience and expertise that Sebastien and Ricky bring to Wisk will be critical as we scale in these areas, both today and in the future.”

Sebastien brings more than 18 years of experience to his role as Senior Vice President of Engineering and Programs, where he will be responsible for executing the company’s technical vision and roadmap, overseeing the development of current and future aircraft, and directing Wisk’s Engineering, Certification, Product Management, and Programs teams. He joins Wisk from Virgin Hyperloop, where he was Vice President of Product Development Engineering and Chief Engineer, and led the development of the Hyperloop system, a new mode of transportation from requirements capture through design, build, and test. He has also held key leadership and technical roles at Bombardier and Dassault Aviation developing type certified aircraft from initial concept through flight testing and certification. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ecole Polytechnique in France and a Master’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University.

“Joining Wisk is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform mobility in a way that is effective, accessible, and sustainable,” said Sebastien. “I truly believe that all-electric, self-flying aircraft are the future of air mobility and Wisk has been at the forefront of this technology for over a decade. I am excited to be part of this amazing journey and to help realize the promise of autonomous AAM in making aviation smarter, safer, and more efficient.”

In his role as Chief People Officer, Ricky will help facilitate the continued growth of Wisk, including talent management, organizational structure and culture, diversity, equality and inclusion (DE&I), and more. With more than 25 years of experience, Ricky has held various HR leadership roles at Nortek, Anixter International, Gap, and Office Depot. His most recent role prior to joining Wisk was as Vice President of HR in the Cardiovascular Portfolio at Medtronic, one of the largest medical device companies in the world. Ricky is also active in the leadership of a number of nonprofits, including the Attles Center for Excellence (ACE), Ability Now Bay Area, and the Mary Valle Foundation for the Cerebral Palsied. He earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Organizational Communications from San Francisco State University.

“Wisk is a clearly established leader in the Advanced Air Mobility Space with a real value proposition that makes it an employer of choice and a destination for talent,” said Robinson. “I look forward to leveraging my experience to help Wisk lead from the front, as we continue to grow. I’m extremely excited to be part of the Wisk family and about the opportunities that we have in front of us.”

Since 2010, Wisk has been focused on delivering safe, everyday flight for everyone. After successfully designing, developing, and testing five generations of eVTOL aircraft, Wisk is now designing its sixth-generation aircraft. Learn more about Wisk’s journey and history of aviation firsts.

ABOUT WISK

Wisk is an urban air mobility company dedicated to delivering safe, everyday flight for everyone. Wisk’s self-flying, eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxi, will make it possible for passengers to skip the traffic and get to their destination faster. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area and New Zealand, Wisk is an independent company backed by The Boeing Company and Kitty Hawk Corporation. With over a decade of experience and over 1500 test flights, Wisk is shaping the future of daily commutes and urban travel, safely and sustainably.

Wisk is on a journey to deliver safe, autonomous, all-electric, everyday flight, join us and learn more here.