Ken Karklin, CEO of the Larry Page-backed eVTOL firm Pivotal, has stepped down after more than four years in the role.
Key facts
- •Ken Karklin served as Pivotal's CEO for more than four years before his departure this week.
- •Interim CEO Mike Ross joined Pivotal's board of directors in November 2025.
- •The Helix personal aircraft starts at approximately $200,000 and does not require a pilot's license.
- •Pivotal's BlackFly aircraft has recorded more than 10,000 flights to date.
- •A BlackFly aircraft was used for the first time in a North Carolina emergency response last month.
Ken Karklin, the CEO of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company Pivotal, has left the firm this week. Karklin, who led the company for over four years, is being replaced on an interim basis by Mike Ross, a member of the company's board of directors since November 2025.
By the numbers
Leadership Transition and Company Outlook
Pivotal stated that Karklin is pursuing new endeavors, though it provided no further details regarding his departure. In a statement, Karklin noted that the company has moved beyond prototypes and is now operating in the real world. Interim CEO Mike Ross stated that the company’s team, priorities, and roadmap remain steady during the transition, with a focus on bringing the fourth-generation Helix aircraft to market.
Product Development and Industry Standing
Pivotal began sales of its first lightweight electric personal aircraft, the Helix, two years ago. The single-seat vehicle does not require a pilot’s license and has a starting price of approximately $200,000. Additionally, the company has developed the BlackFly aircraft for defense and first responder use. Last month, a BlackFly unit was used in a North Carolina emergency, reportedly arriving 20 minutes faster than a responding ambulance. The company reports that BlackFly has completed over 10,000 flights and is part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by TechCrunch.
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