VITTADINI
Grazia

• 1. Early life and education
• 2. Career

Grazia Vittadini is an Italian aerospace executive. From May 2018 to 2021 she was chief technology officer (CTO) of the aerospace and defence company Airbus.Since October 2021 Vittadini has served as the chief technology officer (CTO) of Rolls-Royce.

Early life and education

Growing up in Italy and the United States, Vittadini took an early interest in aviation and motorcycling. She studied aeronautical engineering with a focus on aerodynamics at the Polytechnic University of Milan and holds a private pilot's license.

Career

Vittadini began her professional career working for the Italian industrial partner within the Eurofighter consortium. In 2002, she joined Airbus Operations in Germany, where she occupied several senior management positions, amongst others Chief Engineer on the Wing High Lift Devices of the A380. As head of Major Structural Tests, she was also instrumental in securing the A350 XWB's First Flight and Type Certification. Other positions held by Vittadini include head of Airframe Design and Technical Authority for all Airbus aircraft and head of Corporate Audit & Forensic. More recently, she was head of Engineering within the Airbus Defence and Space management board, reporting to Division CEO Dirk Hoke.

In May 2018 Vittadini was appointed chief technology officer (CTO) of Airbus and a member of the Airbus Executive Committee with responsibility for the technical development and coordination of the entire group. In this role she has focused in particular on developing new technologies and solutions to succeed fossil driven propulsion technologies and to enable environmentally friendly flight (e.g. hybrid and electronic engines). To address the growing complexity of aerospace technologies, Vittadini supports the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing.

Amongst her additional roles, Vittadini serves as director of the Airbus Foundation Board and as a member of the Inclusion and Diversity Steering Committee. She was also awarded the French "Légion d'honneur" (Legion of Honour) in 2017 and the "Woman of the Year in Business" award in 2018 by the French trade magazine L'Usine Nouvelle. Vittadini has been Member of the Supervisory Board of Siemens AG since February, 2021. She will leave Airbus on 1 July after 19 years with the company, with Sabine Klauke replacing her as CTO.

In November 2021 Vittadini joined Rolls-Royce as CTO replacing Paul Stein.