By Dan Catchpole

SEATTLE -Boeing-owned Wisk Aero announced Wednesday that its CEO Brian Yutko is leaving to take over product development for Boeing’s commercial airplanes division.

In his new role, Yutko will still oversee Wisk, which is developing an autonomous air taxi, Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ head of product strategy Mike Sinnett told employees in an internal memo shared with Reuters. 

“The combination of projects under one umbrella gives us more collaboration opportunities that will benefit Boeing well into the future,” Sinnett said in the memo. 

In Wisk’s news release announcing the moves, Yutko said joining Boeing will “connect the pioneering technologies and bold spirit of innovation we’ve cultivated at Wisk.”

Prior to joining the San Francisco-based company in 2023, Yutko was a senior leader in BCA’s research and development of future aircraft systems, such as autonomous air taxis. 

Wisk currently is developing an electric, four-seat air taxi, dubbed the 6th Generation. 

In March, Boeing CFO Brian West said at an investors conference that technology being pioneered by Wisk will be key to the future of autonomous flight and valuable to the rest of Boeing’s business. “It’s small, it’s important, and we’re staying with it.”

Sebastien Vigneron is taking over as Wisk CEO. He previously was Wisk’s senior vice president of engineering and programs.

(Reporting by Dan Catchpole in Seattle; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)