The Board of Directors of Daher announces the appointment of Michel Denis as Chief Executive Officer of the group, effective July 1, 2026.

The Board of Directors of Daher, chaired by Thibault Scaramanga, has decided to establish a strengthened executive leadership structure, composed of the Chief Executive Officer and Aymeric Daher, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, in a logic of complementarity and continuity.

It appoints Michel Denis as Chief Executive Officer of the group, effective July 1, 2026. A graduate engineer from École Centrale de Lyon (1989) and ESSEC (1991), he has successfully held several senior executive positions in demanding industrial and services environments. Until the end of June, he is Chief Executive Officer of the Manitou Group, a family-owned company.

“Michel Denis brings to Daher first-class industrial experience, both in terms of transformation and stakeholder management within a family-owned company. He also brings a fresh perspective to our Executive Committee. Together with Aymeric Daher, who has a deep understanding of the aerospace ecosystem, he will form a complementary and ambitious duo serving the group’s development, both today and in the future,” said Thibault Scaramanga, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

“I would like to thank the Board of Directors for its trust, and it is with great pride and a strong sense of responsibility that I join the Daher Group. Its global stature, family roots, long-term and responsible vision, and leading position are all remarkable strengths. Aware of the value of this heritage, I will fully dedicate myself to making it grow and prosper,” said Michel Denis, Chief Executive Officer.

In coordination with Aymeric Daher and the entire Executive Committee, Thibault Scaramanga will continue to serve as interim Chief Executive Officer until Michel Denis takes office on July 1.

A graduate of École Centrale de Lyon and ESSEC, Michel Denis, 61, built his strategic expertise in consulting before taking on operational responsibilities at Dalkia, then Johnson Controls. In 2003, he joined the Fraikin Group, a European leader in full-service industrial vehicle leasing, where he became Chief Executive Officer.

For more than 12 years, he has led Manitou Group, a global leader in materials handling and people lifting equipment, present in 35 countries with revenues of €2.7 billion. Michel Denis has orchestrated a remarkable expansion of the company. Under his leadership, the group has experienced unprecedented international growth, while remaining firmly anchored in its roots and its French territorial presence. Beyond restoring profitability, his three terms have been marked by massive investments in industrial capabilities and a major acceleration of the decarbonization trajectory.

Recognized for his human leadership, pragmatism, and strong customer proximity culture, Michel Denis brings expertise in value creation that represents a strategic lever to support Daher’s ambitions and embed a lasting culture of operational excellence.

Source: Daher