Pivotal, Larry Page-backed flying car company, announces CEO Ken Karklin's departure

Leadership Change at Pivotal

Ken Karklin, CEO of Pivotal, a flying car company supported by Larry Page, has left his position after more than four years. The company announced Karklin is "pursuing new endeavors" and did not provide further details regarding his departure from the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) firm.

Mike Ross, an aviation executive who joined Pivotal's board in November 2025, will assume the role of interim CEO. Karklin stated that his time leading Pivotal allowed the company to move beyond prototypes and prove the concept of light eVTOL in practice.

Pivotal's Current Products and Initiatives

Karklin's departure follows two years after Pivotal began sales of its Helix aircraft, a single-seat electric personal aircraft that does not require a pilot's license and starts at approximately $200,000. The company is also developing BlackFly, an aircraft designed for defense and first responder applications.

BlackFly recently saw its first emergency response deployment in North Carolina, where it reportedly arrived 20 minutes faster than an ambulance responding to the same call. Pivotal states that BlackFly has completed over 10,000 flights.

Industry Context and Future Outlook

Pivotal is one of several companies selected for the Federal Aviation Administration’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, which aims to increase testing of these aircraft types across the country. The company's leadership transition occurs as it continues to bring its fourth-generation Helix aircraft to market.

Interim CEO Mike Ross affirmed that Pivotal's team, priorities, and roadmap will remain consistent through this transition, highlighting the company's disciplined approach to safety, engineering, and accessibility in delivering on the vision of electric VTOL flight.