Arianespace restructured
March 31, 2017
By Chris Forrester
Arianespace has been restructured into a simplified ‘joint-stock’ company complete with a revision of the rocket launcher’s governance, operational and legal structure.
The move comes some three months after Airbus-Safran Launchers invested into Arianespace, and as a result now controls 74 per cent of the its share structure.
Stephane Israel, CEO of Arianespace SAS and CEO of the holding company Arianespace Participation, joins Airbus Safran Launchers’ executive committee as director of the Ariane 5 and Ariane 6 commercial launcher programmes. Alain Charmeau, CEO of Airbus Safran Launchers, also becomes chairman of the board of directors of Arianespace Participation.
Israel said the changes aimed to support the synergies with Airbus Safran Launchers, adding that Arianespace would continue to work with Avio/ELV on Vega and on the Soyuz operations with its partner Roscosmos.
While the newly-structured company puts in place the overall objectives for Arianespace, the fact is that Arianespace has its work cut out to convert the current dependence on the aging Ariane-5 rocket system and move rapidly towards the Ariane-6 improved – and re-usable – rocket system. The plan is to see Ariane-6 introduced during 2020.