Toulouse, June 2, 2025 – Ascendance, a pioneer in hybrid-electric aviation, announces the appointment of Jean-Baptiste Djebbari to its Strategic Advisory Committee, effective today. The former French Minister of Transport brings his extensive expertise to the company at a pivotal stage in its development, supporting industrial scale-up, international expansion, and the structuring of key partnerships.
A graduate of ENAC (French Civil Aviation University) and École Polytechnique, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari began his career as an airline pilot before joining the business aviation sector as Director of Operations at JetFly, a major player in the European market for 6- to 10-seat aircraft. Elected to the French National Assembly in 2017, he became Minister of Transport in 2019, where he led the rail sector’s revival, investment plans for low-carbon mobility, and the first policies for sustainable aviation. He currently serves as Managing Partner at Magellim Infrastructure, a fund dedicated to clean energies and sustainable mobility. He sits on the boards of several technology companies (E-Space, Look Up Space, Evera) and advises investment funds, while also supporting high-impact environmental startups.
His background—combining aeronautical expertise, a deep understanding of industrial policy, and public governance experience—represents a strategic asset for Ascendance. Djebbari will play a key role in shaping the company’s strategic direction, especially as it targets international markets. “Jean-Baptiste’s arrival is a real catalyst for structuring our international development. His unique expertise and broad perspective—at the crossroads of aerospace, sustainable mobility, and renewable energy—complement our advisory board as we enter a new phase of growth,” said Jean-Christophe Lambert, co-founder and CEO of
Ascendance.
“Joining Ascendance means supporting a company that made the strategic choice for hybrid-electric from day one, with ambitious and rigorous technologies that meet the expectations of a global market seeking credible solutions to decarbonize aviation,” said Jean-Baptiste Djebbari.
He joins a Strategic Advisory Committee already composed of recognized industry and regional leaders: Jean-Paul Herteman, former CEO of Safran; Agnès Plagneux-Bertrand, vice president of Toulouse Métropole and former president of Aerospace Valley; Jean-Christophe Kugler, former executive committee member at Renault; Thierry Tea, former CEO of Airbus Helicopters Philippines and Negocia Group; and Andreas Löwenstein, formerly of Airbus and Kopter Group.