Toyota City, Japan. SkyDrive Inc. (SkyDrive), a leading compact eVTOL aircraft developer based in Japan, announced August 14 that Stéphane Ginoux has joined SkyDrive as an advisor, effective August 1, 2026. In his previous role, Ginoux was concurrently the President of Airbus Japan and the Head of Airbus operations in North Asia.
Ginoux has approximately 30 years of experience in the aviation industry. During his tenure at Airbus, he spearheaded business expansion across the Japanese and North Asian markets, fostering collaboration with corporations, government agencies, and research institutions.
After joining SkyDrive, Ginoux will help the company achieve its declared mission of “leading a once-in-a-century mobility revolution”, creating a world in which eVTOL travel becomes a regular feature of city life.
SkyDrive aims to harness Ginoux’s broad network of government and business partners, in addition to the extensive business development experience gained at Airbus. Ginoux will provide strategic support across a wide range of areas including business development in Japan and Asia, stakeholder engagement with governments, local authorities, and industry associations, and also collaboration with business partners.
SkyDrive looks forward to leveraging Ginoux’s aviation industry expertise and extensive network to accelerate the launch and worldwide adoption of eVTOL aircraft developed in Japan.
Stéphane Ginoux, commented, “One hundred years ago, humanity first succeeded in flying like birds, if only for a few seconds. Today, we can travel by airplane to virtually any destination on Earth in less than a day. The next step is to enable people to use the sky as naturally as they use the ground, giving people even greater freedom in the way they move. The value that this new form of mobility can bring to society is clear. I am honoured to join SkyDrive in this exciting challenge of bringing this transformative mode of transportation to Japan and the world in the best possible way.”
Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive Inc., said, “Stéphane Ginoux has spent many years leading business developments, public-private partnerships, and industrial partnerships in the Japanese and Asian aviation industries. Profitable eVTOL businesses will not be built only through successful aircraft development. True market success will require wide-ranging collaboration with partners in various fields of government and industry across multiple fields including operations, regulatory compliance, and infrastructure development. By drawing on Ginoux’s rich experience and international network, we will further accelerate the drive to develop and launch our Japan-based eVTOL and then scale it internationally”.
Stéphane Ginoux: Career Summary
Stéphane Ginoux, a native of France, came to Japan in 1992 under a French government assignment. He worked at Japan’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), before serving in the commercial section of the French Embassy in Japan.
He joined Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) in 1996. In 2009, he founded Airbus Helicopters Japan. In 2010, he was appointed Representative Director and President of Airbus Japan while continuing to lead Airbus Helicopters Japan. From 2016, he also served as Airbus Group Japan Representative before being appointed Head of North Asia for Airbus, overseeing Airbus’ business across the North Asia region, including Japan and South Korea.
During his tenure, he played a key role in expanding Airbus’ commercial aircraft business in Japan, building the foundation of its helicopter business, strengthening collaboration with Japanese companies and government agencies, and advancing sustainable aviation initiatives, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and hydrogen-powered aviation.
Following his retirement from Airbus in June 2025, he currently provides strategic advisory support to Japanese and international companies.
