Eutelsat signs Ariane long term, CFO departs
February 8, 2013
Eutelsat Communications and Arianespace have announced the signature of a long-term multiple launch services agreement which guarantees launch capacity and flexibility to Eutelsat for its industry-leading expansion programme. The agreement covers up to four launches in the 2016 and 2017 timeframe, with the assignment of each satellite to a launch vehicle to be made at a later stage.
The new contract is in addition to the contract signed in July 2012 between Eutelsat and Arianespace for the 2014 and 2015 timeframe, covering one launch and an option for a further launch.
Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat CEO, said: “This latest contract seals a 30-year relationship between Eutelsat and Arianespace during which over 60 per cent of our satellites have been launched by an Ariane rocket. It paves the road for the future by giving us flexibility and schedule assurance to secure our deployment plan for the five years to come. We are delighted to pursue our longstanding collaboration and are confident that we can count on Arianespace’s total commitment to performance and precision.”
Meanwhile, after more than five years as Chief Financial Officer of Eutelsat Communications, Catherine Guillouard has decided to move on to take up a new challenge outside the Group. Eutelsat has announced that a search is already underway to find a replacement for Guillouard.