Pivotal, a California-based electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft developer backed by Larry Page, has announced a change in executive leadership. Chief Executive Officer Ken Karklin left the company this week after more than four years in the role. The company said he is pursuing new endeavors and named board member Mike Ross as interim CEO effective August 31, 2026.
Leadership Change Announced
Karklin described leading Pivotal as the privilege of his career and said the company has moved beyond the promise of light eVTOL and proved it in practice. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Pivotal offered no additional details about his departure. Mike Ross, who joined Pivotal's board of directors in November 2025, will lead the company while the board searches for a permanent successor.
Commercial Products and Flight Milestones
Under Karklin's leadership, Pivotal opened sales of Helix in January 2024, its first lightweight electric personal aircraft that does not require a pilot's license and starts at around $200,000. The company has also spent years developing BlackFly, an aircraft aimed at defense and first responder use cases. Pivotal says BlackFly is the first light powered-lift eVTOL to be commercially available and delivered to customers in the United States.
Emergency Response and Regulatory Participation
Pivotal's fleet of BlackFly V3.3 aircraft recently surpassed the 10,000 flight milestone. Last month, a BlackFly became the first eVTOL aircraft to successfully answer a 911 call in North Carolina, beating an ambulance running in parallel to the same call by twenty minutes. The company is also a team member of the Multistate Collaborative eIPP led by PennDOT, which the Federal Aviation Administration selected for the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program to increase testing around the country.
Interim Chief Executive Background
Mike Ross is an aviation and technology executive with two decades of experience across defense, aerospace, autonomy, and robotics. He most recently served as senior vice president leading global aviation data at Jeppesen ForeFlight, after joining Boeing Digital Aviation Solutions to launch its uncrewed and advanced air mobility group. He previously held product leadership roles at Skydio and Samsara, and he is a retired U.S. Navy Commander, fighter pilot, and test pilot.
Certification and Market Position
Pivotal has also established itself as the first light eVTOL original equipment manufacturer to achieve AS9100D certification. The company says its distinctive tilt-aircraft architecture and scalable technology platform have been under continuous improvement for well over a decade. Its aircraft take off and land vertically, offering flexibility for recreation, short-hop commutes, defense, and public safety missions.
Looking Ahead
Ross said Pivotal's team, priorities, and roadmap remain steady through the transition. He added that he looks forward to working with the team and guiding the company forward as it brings the fourth-generation Helix aircraft to market. Karklin said the foundation built at Pivotal will help carry the advanced air mobility industry forward.
Pivotal's leadership change arrives as the light eVTOL sector moves from early prototyping toward commercial operations and real world public safety applications. The company has combined manufacturing certifications, regulatory participation, and significant flight milestones that support its continued development in a competitive field. With an interim leader in place and a formal search underway, Pivotal aims to maintain momentum in the emerging advanced air mobility market.