Grazia Vittadini
Grazia Vittadini (2018)
Born1969
Milan, Italy
NationalityItalian, German
Alma materPolytechnic University of Milan
OccupationChief technology officer
EmployerRolls-Royce

Grazia Vittadini FRAeS,[1]FREng [2] (born 1969 in Milan)[3] is an Italian-German[4] aerospace executive. From May 2018 to 2021 she was Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the aerospace and defence company Airbus.[3][5][6] Since November 2021 Vittadini has served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the aircraft engine and power systems company Rolls-Royce Holdings.[7]

Early life and education

Growing up in Italy and the United States, Vittadini took an early interest in aviation and motorcycling.[3][8] She studied aeronautical engineering with a focus on aerodynamics at the Polytechnic University of Milan and holds a private pilot's license.[9][10]

Career

Vittadini began her professional career working for the Italian industrial partner within the Eurofighter consortium.[5] In 2002, she joined Airbus Operations in Germany, where she occupied several senior management positions,[11] amongst others Chief Engineer on the Wing High Lift Devices of the A380. As head of Major Structural Tests, she was also instrumental in securing the A350 XWB's First Flight and Type Certification. Other positions held by Vittadini include head of Airframe Design and Technical Authority for all Airbus aircraft and head of Corporate Audit & Forensic. More recently, she was head of Engineering within the Airbus Defence and Space management board, reporting to Division CEO Dirk Hoke.[12]

In May 2018 Vittadini was appointed Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Airbus and a member of the Airbus Executive Committee with responsibility for the technical development and coordination of the entire group.[9][8][3][5] In this role she has focused in particular on developing new technologies and solutions to succeed fossil driven propulsion technologies and to enable environmentally friendly flight (e.g. hybrid and electronic engines).[13][3][10] To address the growing complexity of aerospace technologies, Vittadini supports the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing.[14][15][16]

She left Airbus in 2021 after 19 years with the company, with Sabine Klauke replacing her as CTO.[17] In November 2021, Grazia Vittadini joined Rolls-Royce as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) replacing Paul Stein.[18] In her current role, her focus lies on further developing the current product portfolio while decarbonizing the aerospace sector and driving sustainable aviation.[19] Rolls-Royce notably explores the possibilities for further efficiency gains in current and future generations of gas turbine technologies,[20] and in the longer term, hydrogen[21] and electrical propulsion.[22] Its other business units (Power Systems, Defence, Rolls-Royce Electrical and Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors (SMR)) are also part of the company’s energy transition strategy.[23][24][25]

Amongst her additional roles, Vittadini served as director of the Airbus Foundation Board and as a member of the Inclusion and Diversity Steering Committee.[5][6] She was also awarded the French "Légion d'honneur" (Legion of Honour) in 2017 and the "Woman of the Year in Business" award in 2018 by the French trade magazine L'Usine Nouvelle.[10][26] Vittadini is also Member of the Supervisory Board of Siemens AG and the Franco-German New Space start-up The Exploration Company. In addition, she is a member of the Senate of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and serves as advisor to the German Centre for Mobility of the Future (DZM) and the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology of Politecnico di Milano (DAER).[27][4] Grazia Vittadini also holds a Doctor h.c. in Engineering and Technology from Cranfield University, UK, and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering.[4][28][1][29]

References

  1. 1 2 "Royal Aeronautical Society Amy Johnson Named Lecture" aerosociety.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  2. ↑ New Fellows 2022 " raeng.org. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Jessica von Blazekovic (27 October 2019). "Frauen in der Tech-Branche: Airbus-Chefingenieurin Grazia Vittadini". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
  4. 1 2 3 "Siemens Profile – Grazia Vittadini PDF" siemens.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Grazia Vittadini: Chief Technology Officer of Airbus Website Airbus Group. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  6. 1 2 Airbus Appoints Grazia Vittadini Chief Technology Officer Website Airbus Group. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  7. ↑ "Rolls-Royce appoints Grazia Vittadini as Chief Technology Officer Designate". www.rolls-royce.com. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  8. 1 2 Grazia Vittadini: Technische Direktorin Airbus, Frankreich/Italien Website Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  9. 1 2 "Ich träume von Greta Thunberg in einem Airbus" Capital.de. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 "Trophées des femmes de l'industrie : Grazia Vittadini (Airbus), Femme de l'industrie de l'année" L’UsineNouvelle. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  11. ↑ Grazia Vittadini Website CDU CSU Fraktion im Deutschen Bundestag. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  12. ↑ Die neue Technikchefin wird gleich zwei Probleme von Airbus lösen Handelsblatt.com. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  13. ↑ Airbus plant das grüne pilotenlose Flugzeug Welt.de. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  14. ↑ GrAIt Innovation From Europe (Chris Boos, Grazia Vittadini, Ludwig Siegele) | DLD Europe 18 YouTube. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  15. ↑ Quantum & AI - Where Are We Now + What’s Next (Paul Daugherty & Grazia Vittadini)| DLD 19 YouTube. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  16. ↑ Quantum Computing: Blessing or Risk? (Götz,Leopold,Müller,Riel,Vittadini,Rodosek) | DLD Munich 20 YouTube. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  17. ↑ "Airbus Profil - Sabine Klauke, Chief Technical Officer" airbus.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  18. ↑ "Personalie - Grazia Vittadini wird CTO bei Rolls-Royce" aero.de. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  19. ↑ "Handelsblatt Podcast – Rolls-Royce-Technikchefin Vittadini über die Zukunft der Luftfahrtindustrie" handelsblatt.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  20. ↑ "Rolls-Royce to start UltraFan prototype tests this year" reuters.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  21. ↑ "Rolls-Royce and easyJet test aircraft engine running on hydrogen" theguardian.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  22. ↑ "Rolls-Royce all-electric aircraft breaks world records" bbc.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  23. ↑ "Rolls-Royce Our Businesses" rolls-royce.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  24. ↑ Rolls Royce Section: Complex-critical-systems" rolls-royce.com. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  25. ↑ Rolls Royce: Accelerating the Race to a Zero Carbon Economy" manufacturingdigital.com. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  26. ↑ Décret du 14 avril 2017 portant nomination Legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  27. ↑ "Dr Grazia Vittadini RREeng (Italy)" raeng.org. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  28. ↑ "Honorary Graduates 2022 Cranfield University". Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  29. ↑ "Dr Grazia Vittadini FREng (Italy)" raeng.org. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
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