Pivotal names interim CEO as founder-backed eVTOL firm navigates leadership transition
Ken Karklin departs after four years to pursue new endeavours, with board member Mike Ross stepping in to guide the Larry Page-backed company toward its next generation of aircraft.
Pivotal, the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, has confirmed a leadership change at the top of the company. Ken Karklin, who served as chief executive officer for more than four years, has departed the firm this week to pursue new endeavours. The announcement, made via a press release, did not provide further details on the specific reasons for his exit, though Karklin did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the timing of his departure.
In a statement, Karklin reflected on his tenure, describing the role as a career privilege. He noted that the company had moved beyond the initial promise of light eVTOL technology to prove its viability in practice. Karklin characterised the current state of the industry as having moved past prototypes and press releases, arguing that it is now operating in the real world under genuine constraints with significant consequences for the future of advanced air mobility.
Mike Ross, an aviation executive who joined Pivotal’s board of directors in November 2025, will assume the role of interim CEO. Ross stated that the company’s team, priorities, and roadmap remain steady during this transition period. He highlighted the disciplined approach to safety, engineering, and accessibility that he observed during his time on the board, expressing confidence in the team’s ability to deliver on the vision of electric vertical takeoff and landing flight.
The leadership change comes at a pivotal moment for Pivotal’s product lines. The company began sales of its Helix, a single-seat lightweight electric personal aircraft, two years ago. The Helix is priced from approximately $200,000 and notably does not require a pilot’s licence to operate. Ross indicated that a key objective under his interim leadership is to bring the fourth-generation Helix aircraft to market.
Pivotal is also developing the BlackFly, an aircraft designed for defence and first responder use cases. The company reported that BlackFly was used for the first time to respond to an emergency in North Carolina last month. According to company statements, the aircraft reportedly beat an ambulance responding to the same call by 20 minutes. Pivotal has stated that the BlackFly has flown more than 10,000 times to date.
As part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, Pivotal is one of several companies selected to increase testing of these aircraft types across the country. The program aims to facilitate broader integration of eVTOL vehicles into the national airspace, providing a regulatory framework for the technology’s expansion.
