EASA Management Board selects Florian Guillermet as future EASA Executive Director

Florian Guillermet has been selected as the future Executive Director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, following a decision by the Agency’s Management Board.

“I am pleased to announce that we have selected Florian Guillermet as the Executive Director of EASA,” said Piotr Samson, Chair of the EASA Management Board and President of Civil Aviation at the Polish Civil Aviation Authority. “I have known Florian for many years and deeply respect his operational knowledge of aviation as well as his high-level strategic thinking. I am sure that, under his leadership, EASA and the European aviation community will grow and prosper even further.”

Magda Kopczyńska, Director-General for Mobility and Transport at the European Commission, said. "Ensuring the highest levels of safety in the sky will always be our top priority, and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency continues to lead efforts to keep passengers safe. I am very pleased with the selection of Florian as the future Executive Director of EASA. Based on his impressive track record, I can be very confident that the future of aviation safety in Europe and beyond is in capable hands. I look forward to our continued cooperation!”

Guillermet is currently the Director at DSNA, the Air Navigation Services Provider designated by the French State. He has over 26 years of aviation experience, with a particular emphasis on Air Navigation and Air Traffic Management.

From 2014-2021 he was Executive Director at SESAR Joint Undertaking, which he joined in 2012 from EUROCONTROL where he had held several roles since 2004. Earlier in his career he held positions at the French Civil Aviation Authority (Direction générale de l'aviation civile (DGAC)) and in Air France.

He is a graduated engineer from Ecole Polytechnique and has a specialised Master Air Transport Management and Aeronautics.

“I am honoured to have been selected to take over the leadership of EASA, which has gained a strong reputation in its 20 years’ existence for its professionalism and expertise,” Guillermet said. “EASA will have an instrumental role in accompanying the transition to greener aviation while maintaining the sector’s strong safety record. I look forward to steering the Agency through these challenges and to building a positive, multicultural working environment on a basis of trust and transparency.”  

The nomination follows an open and transparent procedure launched by the European Commission, and a preliminary selection to identify the candidate best suited in terms of merit, competence and experience relevant for civil aviation. A shortlist of candidates was then proposed to the EASA Management Board to make its selection.

The Management Board selection process was concluded in Cologne on December 13.

The next step is for the selected candidate to make a presentation to the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN). This is currently expected to take place on January 22, 2024, and a notice of formal appointment to the role is planned for February 15. The actual start date remains to be confirmed.

The selected candidate will replace Luc Tytgat, who is currently serving as Acting Executive Director. Tytgat took over as head of the Agency on September 1, 2023, succeeding Patrick Ky, who vacated the Executive Director post on August 31 when his 10-year mandate expired.

EASA is the centrepiece of the European Commission’s aviation strategy, ensuring that aviation is safe for passengers and meets their expectations in all other respects. In addition to its primary responsibility for aviation safety, the Agency has a wide remit in increasing the sustainability of aviation. This has recently been reinforced by the assignment of new responsibilities as part of the RefuelEU legislation, related in particular to the ramp-up of Sustainable Aviation Fuels. EASA is supporting innovation in Drones and Urban Air Mobility and all other areas of aviation.  The Agency celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023.