Supernal, the AAM company of Hyundai Motor Group, has appointed Dr. Farhan Gandhi as its new chief technology officer (CTO). This leadership transition marks a natural step in the company's evolution as it moves from initial conceptual design of its eVTOL aircraft toward advanced engineering, certification and commercial viability.

Gandhi brings a distinguished background in vertical lift aeromechanics and advanced VTOL configurations. With a career defined by over 30 years of leadership in rotorcraft research and eVTOL configuration design, he is uniquely positioned to guide Supernal through its next technical chapter. His expertise aligns directly with the company's current focus on refining its aircraft concept and establishing the rigorous technical oversight required for global certification standards.

Prior to joining Supernal, Gandhi was the Hassan A. Hassan Distinguished Professor in Aerospace Engineering at North Carolina State University and previously served as the director of the Center for Mobility with Vertical Lift (MOVE) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is also a Fellow of the AIAA, the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Vertical Flight Society, and has published more than 380 technical papers in the field of aerospace engineering.

“I am incredibly excited to join the Supernal team at such a pivotal moment in our journey,” says Gandhi. “My focus will be on accelerating our technical vision and ensuring we operate as a high-efficiency, intellectual engine for aircraft development. By leveraging our proprietary design guides and building a robust ecosystem of strategic partners, we are creating the most stable and precise path to a commercially viable aircraft. I look forward to working alongside this elite core team as we define the next generation of the AAM industry.”

Following a strategic realignment, Supernal is operating as a streamlined, high-efficiency organisation. This new structure is designed to stabilise the company's operations, shape a sustainable new business model and focus resources on the development of a commercially viable eVTOL aircraft. By operating as a lean, agile organisation, Supernal is prioritising technology development, FAA coordination and technical oversight.

Supernal is currently in a period of focused internal validation. To respect the integrity of the engineering process and ensure the achievement of upcoming technical milestones, the company is limiting external updates at this time. Supernal looks forward to sharing more significant updates regarding its progress and its broader ecosystem of strategic partners later this year.