Barry Eccleston retired as CEO of Airbus Americas Inc in 2018, after 12-plus years in that role, and almost 49 years in the Aerospace industry.
At Airbus Americas, his responsibility was all aspects of the Airbus Commercial business in North America, including Sales and Marketing, Engineering, Manufacturing Operations, Service, Logistics, Training, and all Shared Services. For several years, this also included Latin America. During this time Airbus’ market share of sales in the region grew from around 20% to over 70% in 2017.
Prior to Airbus, he served as VP and General Manager for Honeywell’s Propulsion Systems Enterprise, and previously as Honeywell’s VP of Commercial Aerospace for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Before Honeywell, he held Executive positions at Fairchild Dornier Corporation, Rolls-Royce and International Aero Engines.
Barry graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Loughborough University (UK) and subsequently completed the International Executive Program at the IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland. He holds Honorary Doctorates from Loughborough University, and Vaughn College in New York.
Barry currently serves on the Board of Wizz Air Holdings PLC, a UK listed airline operating in Europe, where he is the Senior Independent Director, Chairman of the Remuneration Committee, and a member of the Nomination Committee. Previously, he was also on the Board of FLYHT Aerospace Solutions, an avionics business listed on the Toronto TSX, where he served as Executive Chairman until May 2021. He was also a Board member for several years at Vector Aerospace, a Canadian Public company in the MRO business.
In a non-profit capacity Eccleston has been Chairman of the Washington, D.C. branch of the RAeS, past President of The Wings Club of New York, and was a member of the Aero Club of Washington Board, the Flight Safety Foundation Board, and the NBAA’s Associate Member Advisory Council. He retired as Chairman of the British-American Business Association in Washington DC in 2018, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Vaughn College in New York.
In the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List January 2019, Barry was made an OBE (Officer of the British Empire) for services to the UK Aviation and Aerospace Industry.
Barry and Valerie have two grown children who live close to their home in North Virginia, where he retired after a working life in the UK, Japan, US, Canada, France 25th January 2001 and Germany. He is an IFR rated Private pilot and he and Valerie own a C172S and a Cirrus SR20G6.