European missile maker MBDA announced that Airbus Defence and Space executive Jean‑Brice Dumont will become chief executive on Nov. 1, taking over from Eric Béranger, who has led the company since June 2019. A hand‑over period will begin in October to ensure a seamless transition.
Dumont, already a member of MBDA’s supervisory board representing Airbus’s 37.5 % stake, has headed Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space since January 2024 and previously led Military Air Systems from mid‑2021. His 14‑year Airbus career includes senior roles at Eurocopter, Airbus Helicopters and commercial aircraft divisions, and he brings a background as a French Army aviation pilot and graduate of École Polytechnique and ISEA‑SUPAERO.
The appointment comes as MBDA has nearly doubled sales to €5.8 bn in 2025 and expanded its order book to a record €44.4 bn, while European governments urge a faster missile production ramp‑up after the Ukraine war and Red Sea attacks. The firm plans to boost investment to €5 bn for 2026‑2030 and expects missile output to rise 40 % this year, positioning Dumont to steer the next phase of growth and European defence cooperation.
