Karklin announced his departure this week, noting that he is moving on to new endeavors. During his tenure, the company transitioned its focus toward real-world applications, including the development of the BlackFly aircraft, which is currently being tested for defense and emergency response roles. Last month, a BlackFly unit arrived at a North Carolina emergency site 20 minutes ahead of a responding ambulance, marking a milestone for the company’s operational ambitions.
Pivotal CEO Ken Karklin steps down from Larry Page-backed eVTOL firm
After four years at the helm of the electric vertical takeoff and landing company Pivotal, CEO Ken Karklin is stepping down. The departure follows a pivotal shift for the startup, which recently moved from experimental prototyping to commercial sales of its single-seat Helix aircraft, priced at approximately $200,000.
Mike Ross, who joined Pivotal’s board in November 2025, will serve as interim CEO. Ross inherits a company that is currently part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, a federal initiative designed to accelerate the testing of advanced air mobility vehicles. While Karklin did not provide further details regarding his exit, Ross signaled that the company’s current roadmap remains unchanged as it pushes to bring its fourth-generation aircraft to the broader market.
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