The Board of ESSP has appointed a new Chief Executive.

He is Thierry Racaud, currently Vice President at CapGemini AeroSpace & Defence, based in Toulouse.
Thierry will take up his appointment in early 2014 and succeeds Dirk Werquin who is leaving ESSP at the end of 2013 after 7 successful years with both ESSP SAS and its predecessor ESSP EEIG.

Anne Lambert, Chair of ESSP’s Board of Directors, said: “I am very pleased to announce Thierry’s appointment as ESSP’s new Chief Executive. Thierry has extensive experience and knowledge of the sector and will bring a strong commercial background to ESSP. The Board is confident he has the skills and attributes to ensure ESSP continues to provide a first class service to its customers, and to be a leading player in broadening and deepening EGNOS use.”

She added: "Dirk Werquin leaves ESSP with a strong record of progress and achievement. He has led ESSP SAS from its start in 2009, through its certification as an ANSP, to the launch of the EGNOS Safety of Life Service for Aviation and to ESSP’s selection as the service provider for the next contract with the GSA which starts on 1 January 2014. The Board wishes him well."

Thierry Racaud:
Holder of an engineering degree, Thierry Racaud spent 10 years in EADS Astrium (former Matra Marconi Space) as a program manager for mission critical ground segments (ESA Ariane5, export satcom ground stations and French MoD systems).
He then joined Capgemini in Toulouse in 2000 where he held various management and business development positions for space, aeronautics, air traffic management and defence activities in Europe. He was Vice President of Capgemini AeroSpace & Defence and member of its executive committee.

ESSP:
Founded in 2009 by the Air navigation services providers from France (DGAC/DSNA), Germany (DFS), Italy (ENAV)), Portugal (NAV-P), Spain (Aena), Switzerland (skyguide) and UK (NATS) to act as service Provider for the EGNOS system, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service. ESSP has for mission the provision of the EGNOS Open Service (OS) and Safety of Life (SoL) Service compliant with ICAO SBAS standards and recommended practices throughout the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) Region and is also in charge of the provision of the EDAS Service (EGNOS Data Access Service)