Arianespace's operational and marketplace successes in 2005 were recognized by the prestigious U.S. magazine Via Satellite, which has named Arianespace Chief Executive Officer Jean-Yves Le Gall as its Satellite Executive of the Year.

Arianespace and Starsem CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall

Via Satellite is a key publication for the international telecommunications industry, and its selection of Le Gall for the magazine's annual top honor underscores Arianespace's and Starsem's 2005 achievements under his leadership.

Nick Mitsis, Via Satellite's editor, said the selection was based on Le Gall's accomplishments in positioning Arianespace at the forefront of the commercial launch services industry, "all while building its business and enabling the satellite sector to move forward with new services and innovations."

Le Gall will receive the "Satellite Executive of the Year" award in Washington, D.C. on February 8 during the Satellite 2006 conference and exhibition - which is one of the key annual gatherings for international telecommunications executives.

The "Satellite Executive of the Year" award was created by Potomac, Maryland-based Via Satellite in 1988. The first manager honored by Via Satellite was Rene Anselmo of PanAmSat, whose start-up company entered service with the help of Arianespace, which orbited its first satellite - PAS 1 - on the Ariane 4 launcher's maiden flight in June 1988.

"I am very pleased to have been chosen for this honor, which has become a management benchmark for the satellite industry," Le Gall said. "I accept the award on behalf of every employee at Arianespace and Starsem, whose combined efforts have enabled our group to retain its leadership position in an increasingly challenging competitive environment."

Le Gall has been with Arianespace since 2001. He also is Chief Executive Officer of Starsem, the European-Russian affiliate that commercializes the Russian Soyuz launch vehicle.

During his career, Le Gall's experience has included positions in industry, government, as well as a space astronomy researcher.

"I accept the award on behalf of every employee at Arianespace and Starsem"

An engineer by training, he started his space activities in 1981 at the French National Scientific Research Center's Astronomy Laboratory, where he worked as a researcher on the Hipparcos and ISO scientific satellite projects.

In 1985, he joined the French Department of Industry and was assigned to the Space Office, where he was in charge of relations with the space industry. Three years later, Le Gall was appointed as personal advisor for space affairs to the French Minister for the Postal Service, Telecommunications and Space. In 1993, he became Managing Director of the Novespace industrial promotion subsidiary of the French CNES national space agency.

Le Gall was appointed CNES Deputy Managing Director in 1996, with responsibilities that included the elaboration of the agency's strategic plan. In this function, he was the French Representative to the European Space Agency, and was responsible for CNES' international relations and corporate communications.

In 1998, he became Chief Executive Officer of Starsem, and spearheaded the company's ramp-up of commercial activity with the Soyuz launcher. He retained his management responsibilities at Starsem when joining Arianespace in 2001.