Grazia Vittadini
Grazia Vittadini | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1969 Milan, Italy |
| Occupation(s) | Aerospace executive, engineer |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Known for | Chief Technology Officer at Airbus (2018–2021) and Rolls-Royce (2021–present) |
Grazia Vittadini (born 1969 in Milan) is an aerospace executive of Italian-German heritage. She held the position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at the aerospace and defense corporation Airbus from May 2018 until 2021. Since November 2021, she has been serving as CTO at Rolls-Royce Holdings, a company specializing in aircraft engines and power systems.
Early life and education
Raised in both Italy and the United States, Vittadini's passion for aviation and motorcycling emerged early on. She pursued aeronautical engineering with a specialization in aerodynamics at the Polytechnic University of Milan and possesses a private pilot license.
Career
Vittadini’s professional journey started with the Italian industrial partner involved in the Eurofighter program. In 2002, she joined Airbus Operations in Germany, where she occupied several senior leadership positions, including Chief Engineer responsible for the Wing High Lift Devices on the A380. As head of Major Structural Tests, she was instrumental in achieving the First Flight and Type Certification of the A350 XWB. She also directed Airframe Design and Technical Authority across all Airbus aircraft and led Corporate Audit & Forensic. Most recently, she was part of the management board at Airbus Defence and Space, heading Engineering.
In May 2018, Vittadini was appointed as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Airbus, joining its Executive Committee to oversee technological innovation throughout the group. Her responsibilities included advancing alternatives to fossil fuel propulsion to enable greener aviation solutions, such as hybrid and electric powertrains. She championed the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing technologies to address aerospace complexity.
After nearly two decades with Airbus, Vittadini departed in 2021, with Sabine Klauke succeeding her role. She then assumed the CTO position at Rolls-Royce in November 2021, taking over from Paul Stein. Her current focus is on transforming the product range while accelerating decarbonization efforts and sustainable flight initiatives. Rolls-Royce is enhancing efficiency in existing and future gas turbine technologies while investigating hydrogen propulsion and electric propulsion systems. The company’s additional sectors—Power Systems, Defence, Rolls-Royce Electrical, and Small Modular Reactors (SMR)—play integral roles in its energy transition agenda.
Beyond her executive roles, Vittadini has contributed to the Airbus Foundation Board and Inclusion and Diversity Steering Committee. In recognition of her achievements, she was awarded the French "Légion d'honneur" in 2017 and honored as "Woman of the Year in Business" by French publication L'Usine Nouvelle in 2018.
She holds board memberships at Siemens AG and the Franco-German New Space enterprise The Exploration Company. Additionally, Vittadini serves on the Senate of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and provides advisory support to both the German Centre for Mobility of the Future (DZM) and Politecnico di Milano’s Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DAER). She has been awarded a Doctor h.c. in Engineering and Technology from Cranfield University, UK, and is recognized as a Fellow by both the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering.