Airbus has recently named Gabriel Semelas as President of Airbus in Africa and the Middle East (MEA), effective from 1st January 2025.
According to Industry sources, Gabriel Semelas brings more than 24 years of experience in the aeronautical industry, having held core senior executive roles. He returns to Airbus from his current position as Chief Commercial and Financial Officer at Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH in Germany. Before that, he led the contracts team for Airbus’ Commercial Aircraft business in Africa and the Middle East.
Wouter Van Wersch, Executive Vice President International at Airbus, stated: “Gabriel’s extensive background in the aeronautical industry, coupled with his proven leadership skills, makes him the ideal candidate to lead Airbus’ operations in Africa and the Middle East. We are confident that under his leadership, we will continue to strengthen our presence and partnerships in this strategically important region.”
“I am honored to take on this responsibility at such a pivotal time for Airbus in Africa and the Middle East. I look forward to working with our talented teams and partners to drive growth and innovation in this dynamic market,” stated Gabriel Semelas.
Industry sources further confirmed that he succeeds Mikail Houari, who has played a huge pivotal role in expanding Airbus’ footprint in the region over the past years.
Industry sources confirmed that in the new role, Gabriel Semelas will be the core incharge for overviewing Airbus’ operations across all the company’s divisions in the Africa and Middle East region, a key area for Airbus strategic development.
