Larry Page Backed Pivotal Names Interim CEO as Ken Karklin Exits
Pivotal CEO Ken Karklin exits after four years as Mike Ross steps in, while the Larry Page backed eVTOL firm prepares its fourth-generation Helix aircraft.
Summary
On September 1, 2026, Larry Page backed Pivotal said CEO Ken Karklin had left that week after more than four years to pursue new endeavors, offering no further explanation. Karklin did not immediately comment. Mike Ross, an aviation executive who joined Pivotal’s board in November 2025, became interim CEO. Ross said the team, priorities and roadmap remain steady as Pivotal prepares to market its fourth-generation Helix.
The change comes two years after sales began for Helix, Pivotal’s first lightweight electric personal aircraft. The single-seat model requires no pilot’s license and starts around $200,000. Pivotal has also spent years developing BlackFly for defense and first responders. BlackFly handled its first emergency response in North Carolina last month and beat an ambulance answering the same call by 20 minutes, Pivotal said. It has flown more than 10,000 times. Pivotal was also selected for the Federal Aviation Administration’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, created to expand aircraft testing nationwide.
Positives
- Fourth-generation Helix development remains on schedule under interim CEO Mike Ross, with Pivotal saying its team, priorities and roadmap are unchanged.
- BlackFly beat an ambulance responding to the same North Carolina emergency by 20 minutes during its first emergency deployment last month.
- More than 10,000 BlackFly flights provide Pivotal with substantial operational experience in its lightweight eVTOL platform.
- FAA selection places Pivotal in the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program designed to expand testing across the United States.
- Two years of Helix sales have moved Pivotal beyond prototypes and into the personal aircraft market.
Risks & concerns
- Ken Karklin left after more than four years, and Pivotal provided no explanation beyond saying he was pursuing new endeavors.
- Mike Ross is serving only on an interim basis, leaving Pivotal’s permanent leadership unresolved.
- Around $200,000 for an entry-level Helix remains a substantial cost despite the aircraft requiring no pilot’s license.
- The FAA program remains focused on expanded testing, showing that broader eVTOL integration work is still underway.
