Dufour Aerospace announces appointment of new CEO

Today, Dufour Aerospace, the innovative Swiss drone and eVTOL company, announced the appointment of Sascha Hardegger as Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1, 2024. Hardegger succeeds Thomas Pfammatter, a co-founder of the company who led it as CEO for seven successful years. Pfammatter will continue to serve as Head of Strategy, and as a member of the Board of Directors.

Said CEO Sascha Hardegger: “I am pleased to take on this leadership role at Dufour Aerospace at this key moment for the company and our team, and I am honored that the board of directors and the management are placing their trust in me to lead the company. In the coming months and years we will strengthen ties with our partners, ensure market entry and build up production. The development and engineering that are fundamental to our progress will always remain crucial to Dufour. I look forward to shaping and supporting these processes as CEO and to working even more closely with our employees — our most important stakeholders. We would not be where we are today without Thomas’ visionary leadership, and it’s great to have his support in the future.”

Hardegger previously served as Dufour’s Chief Commercial Officer, joining the company in 2021. He has 12 years of experience in Helicopter Emergency Medical Services, and Search and Rescue at Swiss Air-Rescue Rega, a world-renowned helicopter rescue organization and air ambulance provider. There, as a member of management and Head of Helicopter Operations, he led Rega's pioneering innovations in unmanned aerial vehicles and its drone program. Educated at the University of Zurich, Mr. Hardegger has worked as a journalist, as a media spokesperson for the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and police, and on peace-keeping missions abroad for the military. He is a pilot of a variety of aircraft.

Thomas Pfammatter will remain actively involved in Dufour Aerospace, supporting the company with his vast operational experience and business network as a co-founder, and as a long-time, still active rescue helicopter pilot with Air Zermatt.

“Dufour Aerospace’s tilt-wing technology has proven its enormous potential,” said Pfammatter. “It was an honour to lead the company from its initial development of the concept through to the development and launch of Aero2, our automated drone. Sascha has proven to be the leader the company needs for the next phases of development, and I am very happy to support the board and the management of Dufour Aerospace in my future strategic role.”