Rolls-Royce is looking to an electric future, as its chief executive, Warren East, positions the FTSE 100 engineer at the forefront of the next revolution in aviation: aircraft powered by fans.

Mr East, setting out his plans to return the company to profit after one of the most troubled periods in its history, said Rolls needed to be reshaped so that it could help to lead a number of big technological changes, including one of the most ground-breaking of all, electrically powered aircraft.