Former Secretary Of The Navy Named As Tanker Competition
Looms
EADS has named Sean O'Keefe as
Chief Executive Officer to lead the operations of EADS North
America. His appointment is effective November 1, 2009 and he will
become a member of the EADS NV Executive Committee beginning
January 1, 2010.
Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., current Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of EADS North America, will retain his position as chairman
of the EADS North America board and oversee EADS' role in the
Northrop Grumman KC-45 Tanker offer to the U.S. Air Force. Crosby
also will remain on the EADS NV Executive Committee during the
leadership transition.
"Sean O'Keefe's distinguished career in government, industry and
academia provide him with broad expertise and leadership
experience. We are pleased he has joined our team and look forward
to building on the company's success as a U.S. government supplier
and industrial partner of choice," said EADS Chief Executive
Officer Louis Gallois. "We also are fortunate that Ralph Crosby
will continue as chairman. During his seven years of extraordinary
leadership, EADS North America has grown to become a major provider
of U.S. defense and homeland security products and services."
O'Keefe (pictured) has
extensive leadership, government management and policy experience.
He is a former Secretary of the Navy, Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, Comptroller and Chief
Financial Officer of the Department of Defense, Deputy Assistant to
the President, and Deputy Director of the Office of Management and
Budget. Since March 2008, he has served as a corporate officer of
the General Electric Company and Vice President of General Electric
Aviation's Washington Operations.
Previous to GE, O'Keefe was Chancellor of Louisiana State
University. Between public service appointments, he was
Pennsylvania State University's Professor of Business
Administration and Assistant to the Senior Vice President for
Research, and Dean of the Graduate School. Thereafter, he was the
Louis A. Bantle Professor of Business and Government Policy at
Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public
Affairs.
"I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead the EADS team in
expanding its presence in the U.S. defense industry," O'Keefe said.
"Our focus will continue to be offering the most capable defense
and homeland security solutions available, investing in America and
its workforce, and performing beyond our customers' expectations.
We intend to be the product and service quality leader in the
market segments in which we operate and will aggressively
compete."
"The growth of EADS in the United States has been both
satisfying to the company and beneficial to the U.S. warfighter,"
Crosby said. "My deepest thanks go to all EADS North America
employees for their dedication, contribution and exceptional
achievements over these past seven years. I look forward to working
with Sean as he leads this superb team further on our established
path of growth as a successful U.S. prime contractor and major
industrial partner."