Henri Ziegler
1906 – 1998 · First chairman of SNIAS
Engineer and executive, he chaired Sud Aviation, then SNIAS when it was created in 1970. He was one of the architects of the Airbus launch.
People
A few executives and engineers; short biographies limited to established facts.
Roger Béteille
1921 – 2019 · Engineer, A300 programme director
A flight-test engineer turned executive, he led the A300 programme and played a decisive role in organising Airbus industrially.
Bernard Lathière
1929 – 1997 · Head of Airbus Industrie
A senior civil servant, he led Airbus Industrie from 1975 to 1985, a decisive period for Airbus's commercial breakthrough.
Jacques Mitterrand
1918 – 2009 · Chairman of SNIAS
An air force general, he chaired SNIAS from 1975 to 1983. Henri Martre succeeded him.
Henri Martre
1928 – 2018 · Chairman of Aérospatiale
An armament engineer, he chaired Aérospatiale from 1983 to 1992.
Louis Gallois
1944 · Chairman of Aérospatiale
He chaired Aérospatiale from 1992 to 1996, led the SNCF (1996–2006), then co-chaired EADS and led Airbus (2006–2007), before chairing EADS until 2012.