Jean-Bernard Lévy, Chairman and CEO of Thales

Neuilly-sur-Seine, 2-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Mr Luc Vigneron, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thales, having acknowledged the absence of support of the Group’s two main shareholders, tendered his resignation to the company’s directors at a meeting of the Board of Directors on 20 December 2012, and his resignation was accepted. The Board thanked Luc Vigneron for the work he has accomplished for Thales since his appointment, particularly the upturn in profitability and the improvement in the way it manages its contracts.

At this same meeting, the Board of Directors co-opted Mr Jean-Bernard Lévy as a director and subsequently elected him to the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thales. Thales’s two main shareholders, the French State and the Dassault Aviation, welcome this appointment and will work in agreement with senior management to pursue the continued recovery of the Group and its future development.

Jean-Bernard Lévy said he is “very proud to be appointed to lead Thales. I have been aware for many years of the passion and the high-level expertise of the men and women who contribute to the Group’s numerous successes in many countries around the world. In the global marketplace, Thales has all the strengths needed to play a leading role. I know I can count on the energy and commitment of all to meet the challenges ahead and work together to develop our Group.”

Biography of Jean-Bernard Lévy

Jean-Bernard Lévy, 57, is a graduate of the École Polytechnique (1973) and Télécom ParisTech. He began his career in 1979 with France Telecom as an engineer in Angers. In 1982, he became responsible for the management of senior staff and budgets, and was later promoted to deputy head of personnel.
In 1986, he acts as advisor to Gérard Longuet, the French Minister for Postal and Telecommunications services.

Jean-Bernard Lévy was General Manager, Communications satellites of Matra Espace and then Matra Marconi Space from 1988 until 1993, when he became Chief of Staff to Gérard Longuet, the Minister for Industry, Postal services & Telecommunications and Foreign Trade.

In 1995, he was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Matra Communication, and in 1998 he joined Oddo et Cie as chief executive officer, then managing partner.

During summer 2002, Jean-Bernard Lévy was appointed CEO of Vivendi before serving as Chairman of its Management Board from 2005 until June 2012. Jean-Bernard Lévy is married with four children and is a chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur and an officer of the Ordre National du Mérite.

About Thales
Thales is a global technology leader for the Defence & Security and the Aerospace & Transportation markets. In 2011, the company generated revenues of €13 billion with 67,000 employees in 56 countries. With its 22,500 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security
requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners. www.thalesgroup.com

Press contact:
Thales, Media Relations
Alexandre Perra
Tel: +33 (0)1 57 77 86 26
alexandre.perra@thalesgroup.com

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Jean-Bernard Lévy – Photo: AFP/ERIC PIERMONT