Airbus poaches Rolls-Royce top executive to head aircraft sales

Airbus has hired the head of Rolls-Royce's civil engines unit, Eric Schulz, to replace veteran John Leahy and lead its commercial aircraft sales, following months of uncertainty over who would replace Leahy.

Schulz, who had been president of Rolls Royce's civil aerospace unit since January 2016, will report to Airbus chief executive officer Tom Enders and will join in January 2018, Airbus said, confirming an earlier Reuters exclusive.

"We are glad to have Eric Schulz joining our team. He has broad international experience in the aerospace industry, a deep understanding of airline operations and aero engines as well as a proven track record in building and effectively leading organisations in complex environments," Enders said in a statement.

Schulz is a successful 54-year-old French engineer started his career France’s former state-owned Aerospatiale.

He is part of a relatively new management team that pulled Rolls-Royce out of its own compliance scandal and financial problems and has been running civil engines since January 2016.

His experience reinforces close ties between Airbus and Rolls-Royce on wide-body jets, mirroring last year’s decision by rival Boeing to recruit a top executive from its own top supplier, General Electric, to run its commercial unit.