John Leahy (executive) - Airbus Career

Airbus Career

Leahy joined Airbus North America in January 1985, becoming head of sales soon after. He was appointed president of Airbus North America in 1988 with responsibility for the penetration of the strategic North American market, where most major U.S. airlines were Boeing customers. Following Leahy's appointment to the main office of Airbus in 1994, he set a commercial goal for the company to achieve 50% of market sales by the year 2000. The target was reached in 1999 and Airbus has maintained over 50% market share – including worldwide deliveries of aircraft – until 2005.

Leahy was instrumental in the launch of the new Airbus flagship, the A380-800 passenger aircraft and the A380-800F freighter aircraft. With its introduction with Singapore Airlines in October 2007, the A380 has become the largest airliner in the world, surpassing the Boeing 747.

Leahy is also leading the sales campaign for the all-new A350, with the challenge to regain ground lost to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

However, first signs of his job taking its toll on him appeared in autumn 2006, when he had to undergo heart surgery. At the time, doctors advised him to slow his work pace.