Graduate

Case Study: 20 Years at Airbus

Celebrating 20 years at Airbus this year has been a moment for reflection. When I started as a graduate, I couldn't have predicted the path from that first role to my job today. Now I serve as the Vice President of Widebody Wing Manufacturing, leading the UK production of A350 and A330 wings from our Broughton site in North Wales. Our team here builds the wings for half of the world’s commercial aircraft.

My career at Airbus began on a graduate programme in Filton. That foundational experience was crucial for understanding the aerospace industry and finding my place within it. Over the years, I've been fortunate to experience a wide range of roles and opportunities that have shaped my development.

One of the most enriching aspects has been the chance to gain international experience. I've had stints in the UK, Germany (leading a massive logistics network as Head of Warehouse and Transport in Hamburg, managing a team of over 650 people), and even the USA, including a period in Washington D.C. These roles spanned wing manufacturing, service development, and customer service operations, and they taught me more than any training course could. Bringing in new technology, like robotics, to improve operations was particularly rewarding.

Before my current role, I was the Head of Supply Chain Operations in the UK, directing the inbound and outbound supply chain for wing manufacturing. This involved everything from planning and order management to warehouse and distribution, and even our UK Beluga operations.

If I could offer one piece of advice from my own journey, it would be this: stay curious and be open to opportunities, especially those that seem daunting. My biggest periods of growth have consistently come from taking on roles that pushed me out of my comfort zone. It's important to find an environment where you are trusted with real challenges, because that's where you truly learn and develop. Airbus has certainly provided that for me.