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."

FMI: www.eadsna.com