Ken Karklin has left his role as CEO of Pivotal, the electric flying car company backed by Larry Page, after more than four years in the position. The company confirmed his departure in a press release but provided no further details about his next steps, only noting he is “pursuing new endeavors.” Karklin framed the move as a transition toward the next phase of the industry, stating that Pivotal has moved beyond prototypes and into real-world operations with its lightweight electric aircraft.
Mike Ross, an aviation executive and recent board member, will serve as interim CEO. Ross highlighted Karklin’s contributions in bringing Pivotal to its current stage, including the launch of Helix, a single-seat eVTOL aircraft priced around $200,000 that doesn’t require a pilot’s license. Pivotal also continues developing BlackFly, an aircraft designed for defense and emergency response, which recently completed its first emergency deployment in North Carolina, arriving 20 minutes faster than an ambulance.
The leadership change follows Pivotal’s selection for the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, which supports expanded testing of these aircraft. With over 10,000 test flights logged for BlackFly and a fourth-generation Helix in development, the company remains focused on advancing its technology despite the transition.
