The French defense company MBDA has appointed Jean-Brice Dumont, who currently heads the Air Power division at Airbus, as its new CEO. This seasoned executive will succeed Eric Béranger on November 1, 2026, with a transition period commencing in October 2026, as announced by MBDA on May 15, 2026.
Dumont previously led the Military Air System division at Airbus and has spent the last 14 years on the executive committees of Airbus Helicopters, Airbus Commercial, and Airbus Group, where he served as Head of Engineering. In the past five years, he has been involved in significant programs such as the A400M and has worked on modernizing the existing fleets of Eurofighter, A330 MRTT, and C295 aircraft.
He also played a role in the launches of the A321XLR and A350F and has participated in major international initiatives like Tiger, NH90, and H160/HIL. Dumont expressed his satisfaction in contributing to the discussion at the Paris Air Forum regarding “Technologies, disruptive innovations: what weapon systems for tomorrow’s wars?” alongside Emmanuel Chiva, Eric Béranger, and Pierre-Eric Pommellet.
“I am honored to join MBDA at a moment where the Group stands at the center of the defense of Europe and its allies,” Dumont stated. “We are facing unprecedented challenges, and I am confident that together, with MBDA’s unique know-how, skills, and innovative spirit, we will succeed on this journey.”
MBDA noted that during Béranger’s leadership, the group expanded from approximately a €3 billion company with 12,000 employees and an €18 billion order book to nearly a €6 billion company with 22,000 employees and a €44 billion order book.
“When I joined in 2019, none of us could have imagined what we would be faced with,” Béranger remarked. “We stepped up to every challenge, and MBDA is now more essential than ever to global peace and security.”
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