Vertical Aerospace today announced the appointment of Lord Andrew Parker to its Board of Directors, strengthening the company’s leadership in defence, national security, and government affairs. The appointment is effective as of 2 June 2025.
Lord Parker brings deep experience in national security and intelligence from his career serving the UK government, most notably as the former Director General of MI5, the UK Government’s national security agency, from 2013-2020, where he also served on a range of committees, including the National Security Council.
The appointment of Lord Parker follows Vertical’s recent announcement of its hybrid-electric programme, designed to unlock new applications in mission critical sectors such as defence and logistics, as well as recent hires to the Board, who bring deep capital markets expertise.
Last month, the UK government committed over UK20 million to accelerate drone and eVTOL technologies — including eco-friendly air taxis and emergency service applications — building on a total investment of over £300 million to date through the Future Flight Challenge. This latest funding aims to support real-world operations and provide a clear regulatory pathway by 2028.
For more information