PARIS, Sept 17 (Reuters): Airbus is pushing ahead with plans to name a new internal head of its commercial aircraft business, effectively recreating a separate civil jetliner division with the list of candidates widening to include sales chief Christian Scherer.
Industry sources said a final decision on the shake-up was likely in coming weeks, capping weeks of speculation after Reuters reported the looming reorganisation in July.
Chief Executive Guillaume Faury has combined the roles of group chief executive and head of the world's largest civil planemaking activity since stepping up to the top job in 2019.
But global supply disruption since the pandemic, a shifting geopolitical landscape amid war in Ukraine and concerns over Europe's autonomy in space after launcher delays have multiplied the strategic priorities for the French CEO over the past year.
Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even had earlier been cited as a possible candidate for the top planemaking role.
But the focus of speculation has widened to Chief Commercial Officer Christian Scherer, a veteran of the Airbus planemaking business who has also had stints at the Defence division and in running turboprop joint-venture ATR, industry sources said.
His appointment would herald broad continuity at the company's main planemaking business, which accounts for most of the company's revenue.
Airbus declined to comment on internal organisational matters. Its last annual report said its board, which would have to approve major management changes, is closely monitoring succession planning.
Discussion of Airbus' management structure can be sensitive because of a history of internal disputes, especially between previous executives in comparable roles, and intersecting past tensions between minority shareholders France and Germany.
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