Pivotal CEO Ken Karklin departs; Mike Ross named interim

Ken Karklin has stepped down as CEO of the eVTOL startup Pivotal after more than four years in the role. The company stated that Karklin is leaving to pursue “new endeavors.”

Mike Ross, an aviation manager who joined the company's board in November 2025, has been appointed as interim CEO. Ross aims to transition the company's Helix model from its current vision toward full production and market entry.

The leadership change occurs as Pivotal moves from prototyping toward commercial application. The company is currently developing its BlackFly aircraft for emergency services and has begun sales of the Helix, a single-seat electric aircraft priced starting at approximately $200,000.