As #HispanicHeritageMonth wraps up we are highlighting our Chief Financial Officer, Ignacio Ladegui. A proud Spanish-American, Ignacio Ladegui has worked as the CFO of Airbus US for over 3 years. During the 16 years he has been part of Airbus, he has had a chance to work in all 3 Divisions of the Group and considers it the most dynamic, demanding and exciting mission he has ever had a chance to be part of. “Watching this company grow and become more and more relevant to the US customers is a privilege” shares Ladegui. Working as Chief Financial Officer for Airbus U.S. hasallows him to contribute to the financial growth and stability of this company, and furthermore, be part of important decision making in reshaping the company. “All of this has been done as a team” says Ladegui,  “The great Finance team we have on one side and this company’s outstanding leadership team on the other.” He shares that a highlight is having the privilege to work side by side with many other colleagues to win contracts and be better prepared to deliver on our commitments with our customers and the US Government.

The most rewarding part of Ladegui’s time at Airbus is described as working towards a common mission shared among a great team.

Ladegui shares that he works on  bit of everything  but that right now most of his time is currently dedicated to Space-related activities (Business Cases, proposals, AOS Board duties, etc.) although the other business lines also require their fair share of attention. He emphasizes his focus on cash matters as his team is getting ready to make significant investments that will require reliable planning and cash management. In addition , there are drumbeat finance needs that need to be addressed, including financial closings, audits, planning and reporting, etc.

As far as challenges go, Ladegui points to the past three years,  “turning Airbus US from a sales office into the integrated company we have today is been both challenging and rewarding. It takes each and every one of us to make this shift happen” says Ladegui. “There is still a lot to do, but I think we are prepared for the growth we have planned. I am convinced that we are building our future on a solid foundation.”

When asked about future goals, Ladegui shares “I have many goals. I am sorry that I cannot give you just one!”  He cited his desire to see the company successfully execute contracts and commitments: on time, on cost and on quality. He hopes to see the growth that we have forecasted in the Operating Plan be achieved and if possible exceeded. “I would like for this company to continue its transformation to become even greater, more competitive, reliable and profitable” says Ladegui. “And finally, I would also like for all the employees to enjoy and benefit from the company’s success.”

Outside of work, Ladegui is a self-proclaimed “foodie” who loves good wine and beer. He loves an early workout to try and burn-off the delicious Spanish wines, IPAs and wonderful meals he shares with family and friends over the weekend.