N° 10–1997: Mr Antonio Rodota to be Director General of ESA
16 March 1997
Following the announcement by Mr Jean-Marie Luton, at the ESA Council meeting on 17 and 18 December (see press release no. 48-96), that he would not be seeking a third term of office, Council has today announced the appointment, for a period of four years, of his successor, Mr Antonio Rodota.
Mr Rodota, who is 61 years old and of Italian nationality, is currently Director of the Space Division of Finmeccanica (Italy), Managing Director of Quadrics Supercomputer World Ltd (Italy/United Kingdom) and a Director of several companies, including Arianespace.
A graduate of Rome University and an electronics engineer, Mr Rodota began his career with Selenia (1966/80), followed by three years as head of the Compagnia Nazionale Satelliti (Italy). He then moved on to Alenia-Spazio in 1983 where he held a series of senior positions before becoming Chief Executive in 1995.
At today's meeting, Council, on the recommendation of the Director General, also appointed, for four-year terms of office: * Mr David Dale, to the post of Director of Technical and Operational Support.
Mr Dale, 54 years old, of British nationality, has a degree in applied physics together with diplomas in mechanical and electrical engineering. He is currently Head of ESA's Scientific Projects Department.
* Mr Hans Kappler, to the post of Director of Industrial Matters andTechnology Programmes. Mr Kappler, 55 years old, of German nationality, is a physics graduate of the Technical University of Munich. He is currently in charge of technology development at STN Atlas Elektronik (Germany).
* Mr Daniel Sacotte, to the post of Director of Administration. Mr Sacotte, 51 years old, of French nationality, holds a Diplome d'Etudes Applique in astrophysics. He is at present Deputy Director General, Administration, Finance and Human Resources, at the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES, France).
Council also, again on the recommendation of the Director General, extended by two years the term of office of Mr Roger Bonnet, Director of the Science Programme, and asked Mr Rene Collette, of Belgian nationality, who is currently Director of ESA's Telecommunications Programmes, to assume responsibility as from 1 April 1997 for the new Directorate of Applications Programmes, which will bring together all the approved Earth observation and telecommunications programmes (other than the Earth observation scientific programme).
Finally, the term of office of Mr Massimo Trella, of Italian nationality, who is currently ESA's Inspector General, is extended by six months to enable him to complete his task as Co-Chairman of the Ariane-5 qualification review board.