Airbus executive takes the reins of Meyer Werft

Airbus executive André Walter has taken the reins as chief executive of German shipbuilder Meyer Werft, following the retirement of Bernd Eikens. Mr Walter’s appointment is effective as of 1 July.

Mr Walter joins the shipbuilder from the European aerospace group Airbus, where he was chairman of the management board of Airbus Aerostructures GmbH and Airbus GmbH in Hamburg for the last four years. The 59-year-old engineer began his career at Airbus in 2006 with various technical and management positions, including overseeing Airbus sites in Bremen and Hamburg.

The news comes as Meyer Werft moves towards confirming a significant cruise ship newbuilding order with MSC Cruises. On 24 June, the German shipbuilder confirmed it was in “an advanced stage of negotiations” with the privately held shipowner to confirm a letter of intent the parties signed in 2023 for the construction of four new cruise ships, with options for two more.

The negotiations involve MSC’s New Frontier-class cruise ships, which will be approximately 180,000 gross tonnes and have a passenger capacity of 5,400. Deliveries would be made annually starting in 2030.

“This is an extensive and complex contract that usually takes at least six months. Meyer Werft and MSC Cruises are confident that the negotiations will be successfully concluded in the coming weeks. The partners will then inform the public accordingly," said the shipbuilder in a press brief.

Mr Eikens, 61, has led the historic German shipbuilder since December 2023, overseeing its recovery from a major financial crisis in 2024, stabilising its business, and guiding it through a restructuring programme, which is due to run through 2028. During his tenure, several cruise ships have been delivered by the Papenburg shipyard, and river cruise ships by the subsidiary Neptun Werft in Rostock. Meyer Werft, established in 1795, depends heavily on the cruise ship newbuilding business.

As chief executive, Mr Walter will lead the company alongside chief restructuring officer Ralf Schmitz and COO Jörg Heidelberg.