Technology
Pivotal CEO Ken Karklin steps down from Larry Page-backed eVTOL company
Board member Mike Ross has been named interim chief executive following four years under Karklin's leadership.
The short version
- Ken Karklin has stepped down as CEO of electric aircraft company Pivotal after more than four years in the position.
- Aviation executive and board member Mike Ross will serve as interim CEO as the company brings its fourth-generation Helix aircraft to market.
- Pivotal did not disclose the reasons behind Karklin's departure beyond stating that he is pursuing other endeavors.
- A permanent successor has not yet been announced.
Key facts
- Ken Karklin has departed as CEO of Pivotal, an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer backed by Larry Page.[TechCrunch]
- Mike Ross, an aviation executive who joined Pivotal's board of directors in November 2025, has taken over as interim CEO.[TechCrunch]
- Pivotal sells the Helix, a single-seat personal electric aircraft starting at approximately $200,000 that does not require a pilot's license to operate.[TechCrunch]
- The company has developed the BlackFly aircraft for defense and emergency services, which Pivotal claims recently beat an ambulance by 20 minutes during a North Carolina emergency response.[TechCrunch]
- Pivotal is a participant in the Federal Aviation Administration's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program.[TechCrunch]
What remains uncertain
- The specific reasons for Karklin's exit and the timeline for appointing a permanent CEO remain unannounced.[TechCrunch]