André-Hubert Roussel has been appointed by the ArianeGroup Board of Directors as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2019, further to a proposal from shareholders Airbus and Safran.
The newly-named CEO of ArianeGroup, Mr. André-Hubert Roussel.
Mr. Roussel replaces Alain Charmeau, founder of ArianeGroup, who will retire after a transition period. Mr. Roussel, a member of ArianeGroup board since July 2018, is currently the Head of Operations at Airbus Defence and Space.
Since 2016, André-Hubert Roussel has been serving as Head of Operations and Member of the Executive Committee at Airbus Defence and Space. Previously, he was in charge of Engineering at Airbus Defence and Space. Before assuming those duties, Roussel was Head of Engineering, Operations and Quality for the Space Systems business unit inside Airbus Defence and Space. In 2014, Roussel took the lead for the Launcher Programs at Airbus and played a decisive role in the launch of the Ariane 6 program as well as in the creation of the ArianeGroup joint venture. He began his professional career in 1990 and holds a degree in Engineering from École Polytechnique and École Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications. Roussel is married with four children.
CEO Alain Charmeau, now retiring from ArianeGroup.
The ArianeGroup Board expressed their gratitude to Alain Charmeau for his work on behalf of ArianeGroup and the European space launchers industry. In a Board statement, they noted that Alain Charmeau has been a tireless advocate of the merger of the Airbus and Safran launcher activities, overseeing the creation of ArianeGroup and building up the company while carrying out the essential, in-depth changes to the governance of the European launchers sector. He notably contributed to a new competitive industrial organization for development and production of Ariane 6 throughout Europe and coordinated the merger with Arianespace. With the full confidence of the government stakeholders, he also enabled the efficient continuation of major defense programs. Finally, he initiated a profound transformation of ArianeGroup to consolidate its position as European leader of access to space, in a particularly complex and competitive global market.
Executive Comments
Alain Charmeau stated, “I am happy to hand the reins over to Andre-Hubert Roussel, whom I have known for a long time and with whom I have worked on developing the civil launchers sector. ArianeGroup is now a recognized company worldwide, and it is now Andre-Hubert Roussel who must continue the adventure to ensure the success of ArianeGroup as a competitive and innovative group, guaranteeing independent and strategic access to space for Europeans. On this occasion, I would like to thank all ArianeGroup employees for their engagement as well as our customers from both civil and defense markets for their trust.”
Andre-Hubert Roussel commented, “Succeeding Alain is an honor and a huge responsibility. The employees and management of ArianeGroup have already done a tremendous job in making Ariane 6 a reality, while maintaining the success of Ariane 5, ensuring the quality of service for the French Oceanic Deterrent Force and developing new products and services. Together, we will take up the challenges that await us, starting with the success of the Ariane 6 maiden flight in 2020 and its marketing with institutional and commercial customers.”
Additionally, Airbus Defense and Space has appointed Barbara Bergmeier as the Head of Operations and Member of the Executive Committee, effective December 1, 2018 — she succeeds André-Hubert Roussel who is to be the CEO of ArianeGroup, effective January 1, 2018.
Ms. Bergmeier joins Airbus Defence and Space from Vilsbiburg, Germany-based Dräxlmaier Group, where she has been Chief Operating Officer and an Executive Board Member since 2014. In that capacity, she has been in charge of 50 production sites in 20 countries and has been instrumental in expanding the company’s industrial footprint in Asia and in the Americas.
Before joining Dräxlmaier Group in 2014, she worked at automotive company BMW Group where she held various senior management positions from 1990. Among others, she was Senior Vice President HR Management/Services at the company’s headquarters in Munich, Vice President Chassis & Drive Components in Dingolfing, Germany and Vice President Assembly and Logistics at BMW’s Spartanburg plant in the U.S. Barbara Bergmeier holds a degree in business administration from the University of Applied Sciences in Landshut, Germany.