Skyports, the world’s leading dedicated vertiport company, has appointed Addison Ferrell and Andrew Giacini as new Head of Americas and Regulatory Affairs Lead, respectively.
As Head of Americas, Addison will drive the development of vertiport infrastructure and the implementation of commercial drone deliveries. He will also lead Skyports’ efforts to build public acceptance and trust in advanced air mobility across the Americas.
Addison brings 13 years of commercial and technical experience in the aviation and automotive industries to the role. He previously worked at GE Aviation before completing an MBA at Harvard Business School in 2016. Addison then joined McKinsey & Company, firstly as an associate and latterly as engagement manager, working on programs such as aerospace manufacturer aftermarket growth transformation, aviation services provider corporate strategy, and automotive supplier commercial negotiations.
As Regulatory Affairs Lead, Giacini will develop and implement Skyports regulatory strategy and technical requirements to enable the integration of AAM. He will also play a critical role in cultivating commercial and strategic relationships both within the Americas and globally. With over five years of experience working in governmental and industry affairs, firstly within U.S. Congress and subsequently for the Department of Transport and Federal Aviation Administration, he brings important insight of aviation policy and the U.S. regulatory environment to the role.
Ferrell said: “I am eager to apply my experience and long held passion for the aerospace industry to advance the future of AAM. I look forward to working closely with AAM leaders to combine my operational and regulatory experience with Skyports’ expertise in vertiport and drone delivery in order to expand operations across the Americas.”
Giacini said: “The future of advanced air mobility is exciting, with countless opportunities. Joining Skyports as Regulatory Affairs Lead, I look forward to shaping policy and defining Skyports’ role as a leader in the aviation and AAM industry.”
Duncan Walker, CEO at Skyports said: “Addison and Andrew joining the team will add significant strength to our operations in the Americas at an exciting time in Skyports’ growth. These appointments will enable us to shift gear in our operations across the region. With his background in business leadership and engineering, Addison will be a driving force behind making the commercialisation of advanced air mobility a reality.”
