Jean-Bernard Lévy becomes Chairman and CEO of Thales
Above: Jean-Bernard Lévy.
Mr Luc Vigneron, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thales, After acknowledging the absence of support of the Group's two main shareholders, Mr Luc Vigneron, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thales, tendered his resignation to the company's directors at a meeting of the Board of Directors on 20 December 2012, and his resignation was accepted. The Board thanked Luc Vigneron for the work he has accomplished for Thales since his appointment, particularly the upturn in profitability and the improvement in the way it manages its contracts.
At this same meeting, the Board of Directors co-opted Mr Jean-Bernard Lévy as a director and subsequently elected him to the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thales. Thales's two main shareholders, the French State and the Dassault Aviation, welcome this appointment and will work in agreement with senior management to pursue the continued recovery of the Group and its future development.
Jean-Bernard Lévy said: "I am very proud to be appointed to lead Thales. I have been aware for many years of the passion and the high-level expertise of the men and women who contribute to the Group's numerous successes in many countries around the world. In the global marketplace, Thales has all the strengths needed to play a leading role. I know I can count on the energy and commitment of all to meet the challenges ahead and work together to develop our Group."
Jean-Bernard Lévy was General Manager, Communications satellites of Matra Espace and then Matra Marconi Space from 1988 until 1993, when he became Chief of Staff to Gérard
Longuet, the Minister for Industry, Postal services & Telecommunications and Foreign Trade.
In 1995, he was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Matra Communication, and in 1998 he joined Oddo et Cie as chief executive officer, then managing partner.
During summer 2002, Jean-Bernard Lévy was appointed CEO of Vivendi before serving as Chairman of its Management Board from 2005 until June 2012.
