French defense firm MBDA has recruited the services of Jean-Brice Dumont from Airbus as its new CEO, a seasoned executive who currently leads the Air Power division.
On May 15, 2026, MBDA said Dumont will take over from Eric Béranger on November 1, 2026, with a transition period starting in October 2026.
Dumont was previously head of Military Air System at Airbus and served over the last 14 years in the executive committees of Airbus Helicopters, Airbus Commercial, and Airbus Group as Head of Engineering.
Over the last 5 years, he has worked on key programs such as the A400M, while modernizing the existing fleet of Eurofighter, A330 MRTT and C295 aircraft.
He was also involved in the A321XLR and A350F launches and has been part of large international programs such as Tiger, NH90 and H160/HIL.
Happy to have contributed to the debate at the Paris Air Forum about "Technologies, disruptive innovations: what weapon systems for tomorrow's wars?", with Emmanuel Chiva @DG_Armement, @eric_beranger, Pierre-Eric Pommellet @navalgroup pic.twitter.com/JsmsIqlnQm
— Jean-Brice Dumont (@JeanBriceDumont) June 13, 2024
“I am honored to join MBDA at a moment where the Group stands at the center of the defense of Europe and its allies,” Dumont said. “We are facing unprecedented challenges, and I am confident that together, with MBDA’s unique know-how, skills and innovative spirit, we will succeed on this journey.”
According to MBDA, under Béranger’s tenure the “group has grown from a circa €3Bn company with 12,000 people and a €18Bn order book to an almost €6Bn company with 22,000 people and a €44Bn order book”.
“When I joined in 2019, none of us could have imagined what we would be faced with,” Béranger said. “We stepped up to every challenge and MBDA is now more essential than ever to global peace and security.”