PARIS, May 23 (Reuters) - Airbus is appointing its top

executive in South Asia to be its next head of technology,

industry sources said on Friday.

Remi Maillard will also be responsible for commercial

aircraft engineering, replacing Sabine Klauke in both roles and

superseding the "Chief Technology Officer" role which will no

longer sit on the executive committee, they said.

From July 1, Klauke will become head of the next generation

of digital design and manufacturing activities within the main

commercial business. Airbus declined to comment.