Louis Gallois appointed new Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer

Louis Gallois took office at Airbus' headquarters in Toulouse today, meeting with the Airbus Executives, as well as with the local Officials and Union representatives. This follows his appointment yesterday evening by the EADS Board of Directors as new President and Chief Executive Officer of Airbus with immediate effect. Mr Gallois remains Co-CEO of EADS, a position he held since July 2006. Mr Gallois succeeds Christian Streiff, who has resigned from this position. Mr Gallois joins Airbus with a vast experience in the aviation business, having been head of SNECMA (now Safran) and Aerospatiale (now part of EADS) in the late 80ies and 90ies.

A graduate of the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) and in Economic Science, as well as of the Ecole Nationale de l'Administration (ENA), Louis Gallois started his career in 1972 in the staff of the French Department of the Treasury. In 1981 he became Head of the Cabinet Office of the Ministry of Research and Industry, becoming Director General for Industry in the same Ministry one year later. In 1988 he was nominated to the position of Head of the Civil and Military Cabinet office of the French Ministry of Defence.

In 1989, Louis Gallois moved to the industry, being first appointed Chairman and CEO of the aeronautical engine manufacturer SNECMA, now part of Safran. In 1992, he became Chairman and CEO of French aerospace manufacturer Aerospatiale (now part of EADS). In this capacity he was a member of the Airbus Industrie Groupement d'Intérêt Economique (GIE) Supervisory Board, and in charge of the Aerospatiale Airbus Division. From 1996 until June 2006, Louis Gallois was Chairman of the French National Railways (SNCF). Since the creation of EADS in 2001, he was also a member of the grouping's Board of Directors.

Louis Gallois is also a Board member of the Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures (school of Engineering) as well as Chairman of the Fondation Villette-Entreprises.

Born in January 1944, Louis Gallois is married with three children.

Louis Gallois hold the title of Officier de l'ordre National du mérite (Officer of the French notional order of merit) and Officier de la Légion d'Honneur (officier of the French legion of Honour).

Airbus is an EADS joint company with BAE Systems.

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