European Satellite Operators Association Appoints New Secretary General

PARIS, Sept. 10/Satnews Daily/ — The Board of Directors of the European Satellite Operators' Association (ESOA) has appointed Aarti Holla-Maini as the association's new Secretary General. Based in ESOA's Brussels office, Holla-Maini will manage and represent the association on a day-to-day basis, succeeding Fulvio Sansone.

As Secretary General, Holla-Maini will work to generate and strengthen awareness of the benefits of satellite-delivered services with key decision-makers, fostering the necessary political, industrial, trade and regulatory environments to ensure the Global availability of these services.

ESOA Chairman Dan Goldberg said Ms. Holla-Maini's background and experience in the satellite domain, and in working with various European institutions, will ensure that the views and objectives of the association are effectively communicated to policy makers so that they understand the critical role satellite technology plays in the European and Global communications infrastructure.

ESOA members contribute significantly to Europe's Global pre-eminence in the satellite services sector. In 2003, members achieved revenues in excess of $4.38 billion (Eur3.5 billion) from capacity on board the more than 100 in-orbit satellites operated and/or commercialized by them, and maintained a workforce of more than 4,700 people.

“Our business accounts for close to 50 percent of the activity of the 35,000 people working for the European space industry at large, according to the space industry's association Eurospace. ESOA members' satellites are used to deliver data, voice, Internet and video signal distribution services Globally, including delivery of services -directly or indirectly - to more than 100 million European homes," Goldberg said.

Holla-Maini has substantial experience in the aerospace industry, most recently representing the joint-venture company Galileo Industries in Brussels and working with European institutions in preparing the Public Private Partnership scheme for the $1.96 billion (Eur1.6 billion) Galileo project. Prior to this, she was a project manager working on new satellite ventures at EADS in Munich, Germany.

Holla-Maini holds a Masters of Business Administration from HEC France and speaks five languages. In 1995, she qualified as a solicitor in the United Kingdom. Holla-Maini resides in Brussels.