On February 25, the Board of Directors of IRT Saint Exupéry unanimously elected Jean-Christian Beucher as Chief Executive Officer. With extensive experience in the aerospace industry, he officially assumed his duties on March 3, 2025, with the ambition of further accelerating the institute’s innovation and technological development momentum.
Jean-Christian Beucher, the new Chief Executive Officer of IRT Saint Exupéry
Former Head of Circular Economy at Airbus, Jean-Christian Beucher brings over 25 years of experience in the aerospace industry, having held strategic positions in engineering, R&D, and international program management.
« I am deeply honored to join IRT Saint Exupéry as Chief Executive Officer. Excited to contribute to the institute’s future, I firmly believe that its success relies on a clear and shared vision, unifying leadership, and a pragmatic approach to scientific, industrial, and technological challenges.
My commitment is unwavering in continuing the remarkable work accomplished by my predecessor and the IRT teams, while amplifying this dynamic of excellence by relying on the expertise of its talented teams, the strength of its ecosystem, and its regional influence.
With over 25 years of experience in the aerospace industry, in roles where technological excellence and strategic vision were at the heart of my responsibilities, I am fully dedicated to advancing the ambitions of IRT alongside you and bringing my vision to support its development.
Convinced that success relies on human capital, let us continue to position our institute on a path of sustainable innovation and strengthen its influence in service of the aerospace industry.»
Biography
Jean-Christian Beucher, a graduate of ICAM, has nearly 25 years of experience in the aerospace industry. He began his career at AIRBUS France as a mechanical engineer, contributing to cost-reduction initiatives for the structural subassemblies of Forward Sections. He quickly rose to key technical and managerial positions across various aircraft programs.
In 2001, he took charge of designing the A380 cockpit structure before overseeing the structural certification tests of the A380 Forward Section three years later. His career took on an international dimension in 2005 when he joined the A400M military program in South Africa, representing AIRBUS for all engineering and local production activities.
Returning to France in 2007, he joined the A350 program’s leadership team, overseeing the development of the forward fuselage. He then moved to AEROLIA, where he was appointed to lead the design of the A350 forward fuselage.
In 2013, his career took another international turn when he became the Technical Director of AEROLIA Canada, supervising the development of the center fuselage equipped for Bombardier’s G7000.
At the end of 2015, he returned to Toulouse to take over as General Director of Research & Technology at STELIA Aerospace. There, he drove major innovations and strengthened the group’s international presence, particularly in Canada. He also managed the Composite Products Line and the group’s “make-or-buy” strategy for these products.
In 2020, he joined AIRBUS Commercial’s Materials Procurement Department, where he developed and implemented the purchasing strategy for forgings, castings, and 3D-printed parts. In 2024, he was appointed Head of Circular Economy, a strategic priority for Airbus. In this role, he leads circularity initiatives to enhance European resilience and sovereignty over critical materials.
Driven by a visionary mindset and an ever-renewed curiosity, Jean-Christian Beucher is committed to sustainable, high-performance technological innovation. Convinced that success also relies on human capital, he embraces this philosophy as he takes on the role of General Director at IRT Saint Exupéry, starting on March 1, 2025.
« We are delighted to welcome Jean-Christian Beucher as the Director of IRT Saint Exupéry. His expertise, strategic vision, and leadership will be invaluable assets in strengthening our drive for innovation and excellence. His commitment alongside our teams and partners will be instrumental in addressing the technological challenges of the future. »
— Christian Picollet, President of IRT Saint Exupéry
About IRT Saint Exupéry
The Saint Exupéry Technological Research Institute (IRT) is an accelerator of science, technological research, and transfer to the aerospace and space industries for the development of innovative, safe, robust, certifiable, and sustainable solutions.
We offer an integrated collaborative environment at our sites in Toulouse, Bordeaux, and Sophia-Antipolis, composed of engineers, researchers, experts, and PhD students from both industrial and academic backgrounds. This environment supports research projects and R&D services backed by technological platforms across four key areas: advanced manufacturing technologies, greener technologies, methods and tools for the development of complex systems, and intelligent technologies.
The IRT Saint Exupéry is a state-recognized technological research institute, accredited under the French government’s Future Investment Program (PIA).
