Stéphane Israël has been named as chairman and CEO of European launch provider Arianespace, effective as of 22 April.
He replaces Jean-Yves Le Gall, who was appointed at the head of France’s space agency, Centre National d’Études Spatiales…
Stéphane Israël has been named as chairman and CEO of European launch provider Arianespace, effective as of 22 April.
He replaces Jean-Yves Le Gall, who was appointed at the head of France’s space agency, Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES), earlier this month. CNES is Arianespace’s largest shareholder.
Israël joins Arianespace from the French Ministry of Industry, where he was chief of staff to the Minister. He started his career as a judge in the French Court of Auditors, during which time he participated in missions concerning French space policy and the Ariane launch system.
In 2007, he moved to the aerospace industry, first as adviser to Louis Gallois, CEO of EADS, then holding various operational management positions at Astrium Space Transportation and Astrium Services.
Commenting on the appointment, Le Gall said: “I am very pleased that our board has unanimously accepted my nomination of Stéphane Israël as chairman and CEO of Arianespace. His broad experience in his previous positions makes him perfectly qualified to meet the operational, commercial and financial challenges facing our company. In my new job at the head of CNES, I will do everything in my power to facilitate his task.”
Trained as an engineer and scientist, Le Gall joined the launch provider in 2001. Throughout his career Le Gall has focused on the European space programme, including a series of positions with the French national scientific research agency CNRS, the French Ministry of Industry, Novespace – which operates the zero-gravity Airbus A300 – as well as CNES.
Le Gall is often credited with contributing to the development and success of the Ariane 5 launcher.
He replaces Yannick d’Escatha, who has reached the retirement age, at the head of CNES.
