Pivotal CEO Exits Amid eVTOL Commercial Push

Ken Karklin, the chief executive of Pivotal, the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft company backed by Larry Page, has left the company, according to a press release. The departure comes just as the company pushes its fourth-generation aircraft to market.

Leadership Change at the Helm

Karklin, who served as CEO for more than four years, has departed, the company announced. Pivotal said Karklin is “pursuing new endeavors” but provided no further details about the executive's exit from the eVTOL firm.

“Leading Pivotal has been the privilege of my career. Together, we’ve moved beyond the promise of light eVTOL and proved it out in practice,” Karklin said in a statement. “This industry has moved past prototypes and press releases; it’s now operating in the real world, under real constraints, with real consequences for the future of Advanced Air Mobility. As I turn to new endeavors, I do so knowing the foundation we built here will help carry this industry forward.”

Interim Successor Named

Mike Ross, an aviation executive who joined Pivotal's board of directors in November 2025, will serve as interim CEO. Karklin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Ken’s leadership over the past four years has been instrumental in bringing Pivotal to where it is today. Our team, our priorities, and our roadmap remain steady through this transition,” Ross said in a statement. “I’ve had the honor of working closely with Ken as a Board member and watching Pivotal’s disciplined approach to safety, engineering, and accessibility deliver on the vision of electric VTOL flight. I look forward to working with the team and guiding the company forward as we bring our fourth-generation Helix aircraft to market.”

Aircraft Sales Underway

Karklin's exit comes two years after Pivotal began sales of Helix, its first lightweight electric personal aircraft. The single-seat aircraft does not require a pilot's license to fly and starts at around $200,000.

Growing Focus on Defense and First Responders

Pivotal has also spent years developing an aircraft called BlackFly aimed at defense and first-responder use cases. Last month, BlackFly was used to respond to an emergency in North Carolina for the first time ever. The company says it beat an ambulance responding in parallel to the call by 20 minutes. BlackFly has flown more than 10,000 times, according to Pivotal.

Industry Recognition and Regulatory Path

Pivotal is one of several companies selected for the Federal Aviation Administration's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, which was created to increase testing of these types of aircraft around the country. The program is part of broader efforts to integrate eVTOL aircraft into the national airspace.

Why It Matters

The leadership change at Pivotal comes at a critical juncture for the eVTOL industry, which is moving from development to commercial reality. With the Helix already on the market and BlackFly demonstrating real-world emergency response, the company's next steps under new leadership could influence how quickly these aircraft gain wider adoption. The transition may also signal how companies are navigating the challenges of scaling up production and meeting regulatory requirements in a nascent industry.