Derek Cheng

Derek Cheng is the Head of Commercial Asia-Pacific at Vertical Aerospace since January 2022, overseeing commercial, business, and partnership development in the region. Prior experience includes a leadership role at Airbus from March 2016 to December 2021, where Derek held multiple key positions, such as Head of Government & Public Affairs for APAC and Head of Asia-Pacific for Airbus Urban Mobility, where Derek spearheaded initiatives for air taxi and cargo drone services. Earlier roles at the Singapore Economic Development Board involved developing strategies for urban mobility and managing high-tech sector investments. Derek began a military career as a pilot in the Air Force and has extensive educational credentials, including master's degrees from the University of Cambridge and Cambridge Judge Business School, and a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.