Antonio Rodotà
Director General
European Space Agency

His career began with SISPRE SpA (Italy), in the field of electronic design, where he worked until going to Paris in 1965 to spend a year as the Italian delegate to NATO. On his return to Italy, Mr Rodotà worked for Selenia, first as the Head of the Electronic Design Group and then as Head of the Radar and Systems Division.

In 1980 Mr Rodotà became Director General of CNS (Compagnia Nazionale Satelliti) SpA and in 1983 he moved to Selenia Spazio, where he held the position of Joint-Managing Director until 1990, when he became Joint Managing Director of Alenia Spazio SpA (now Alenia Aerospazio), the leading Italian space company. As Joint Managing Director, Mr Rodotà was also responsible for coordinating the space activities of the subsidiaries Laben and SSI (Space Software Italia).

After the merger of Alenia Spazio with Finmeccanica in 1996, Mr Rodotà became Head of the Space Division of Finmeccanica, and Chairman and Managing Director of Quadrics Supercomputer World Ltd., a joint venture between Alenia Spazio SpA and Meiko Ltd.

Mr Rodotà also served on the Board of Directors of several aerospace companies, including Arianespace, SSI, Elelco, Marconi/Alenia Communications and Space Systems Loral. In addition, he was Vice Chairman of the Defense and Space Group of the Italian National Association of Electrical Industries, and a member of the Managing Committee of the Italian Aerospace Association and the High-performance Computer Group in the Italian Ministry of Research.

In March 1997, Mr Rodotà was appointed by the ESA Council to be Director General of the European Space Agency.