The aerospace industry is mourning the passing of Pierre Cardin, Airbus Canada’s Head of Public Affairs, who died unexpectedly in Montreal. Cardin was a respected leader whose career spanned over three decades and left an indelible mark on both the Canadian and international aerospace sectors.
Born and educated in Canada, Cardin studied at Collège de Montréal and Collège Jean de Brébeuf before earning his law degree from Université de Sherbrooke. He furthered his education with a diploma in International Commerce from Université de Paris 1 (Sorbonne-Panthéon). A member of the Quebec Bar, he was also registered as in-house counsel with the Virginia State Bar.
Cardin began his career in private legal practice in Montreal and Paris before joining Matra Marconi Space in Toulouse in 1990 as General Counsel. He later took on significant roles within Airbus and its predecessor, EADS, including serving as Group General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for North America, based in Washington, D.C. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in major U.S. defense procurement programs.
In 2011, Cardin returned to Europe as Airbus Group’s Export Compliance Officer, where he was instrumental in navigating complex international sanctions and export controls. His leadership was crucial in Airbus’s agreements with Iran Air following the lifting of sanctions under the JCPOA.
From 2017, he led Airbus’s Procurement Strategy and Services, overseeing a global team responsible for strategic sourcing and supplier development across all Airbus divisions.
Appointed as Airbus Head of Public Affairs Canada in 2019, Cardin was based in Montreal, where he represented Airbus in its A220 partnership with Investissement Québec and served as the company’s liaison to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Cardin’s contributions to the aerospace industry were recognized in 2013 when he was named an Ambassador by the Université de Sherbrooke’s Faculty of Law, honoring distinguished alumni.
Pierre Cardin’s legacy is one of dedication, integrity, and visionary leadership. He will be deeply missed by colleagues, friends, and the broader aerospace community.