Ferdinand Vogel is the new CEO of NOVA

Ferdinand Vogel has been closely connected with NOVA since 2009. His initial contact with the company occurred while cross-country flying with paragliding legend Toni Bender in Bassano, followed by joining the NOVA Pilots Team. In 2015, he worked as a test pilot and workshop employee at NOVA, and in 2018/2019, he took on the role of Account Manager in sales. Since 2019, he has been active again as a test pilot and has significantly contributed to product development and quality assurance.

Ferdinand Vogel was born in 1991 and grew up near Stuttgart, Germany. He discovered his passion for flying at an early age, inspired by his father, who was also a paraglider pilot. At the age of 12, he started practicing ground handling, and at 14, he officially entered into the word of paragliding. Ferdi has been living in the Alps for many years now – currently in the Stubai Valley – where various flying areas, including the company headquarters, are easily accessible.

Ferdi’s professional career began in 2007 when he trained as a systems electronics technician. His focus gradually shifted towards paragliding: Since 2018, Ferdi has been a certified DHV flight instructor, and since 2022, he has been the manager of the German Paragliding League at DHV. In 2023, he became a member of the DHV flight instructor training team. Additionally, since 2023, Ferdi has held the position of Red Bull X-Alps Race Director. Last year, he completed his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. In recent years, he has led many cross-country flying seminars and has also shared his knowledge online through NOVA Insights.
 

Vogel's sports career is equally impressive. His first competition participation was in 2010, and by 2013, he became the German Champion and set a German cross-country record. Since 2016, he has been a member of the German national team and has achieved numerous other successes, such as in 2018: BordAirrace record (129 km), 2022: Winner of the Zillertal Battle on MENTOR 7, and 2023: Second place at the PWC Turkey.

"Over the past 15 years, I have got to know and appreciate NOVA from different perspectives: in service, in sales and in development. Thanks to my business training, I now have the ideal opportunity to combine all these aspects as Managing Director. I am very much looking forward to the new challenge and to shaping the future together with the existing NOVA team," says Ferdinand Vogel about his new position. Under Vogel's leadership, NOVA will continue to focus on innovation and quality.

We are very excited and looking forward to this new chapter.