Patrick Gavin has been appointed Airbus' Executive Vice President Engineering, effective April 16, in replacement of Alain Garcia, who will become Technical Advisor to the CEO prior to retiring at the end of June. As such Mr Gavin is a member of the Airbus Executive Committee. Simultaneously, Charles Champion becomes Airbus' Executive Vice President Customer Services, taking over from Mr Gavin.

"I would like to thank Alain Garcia for his great contribution to Aviation over his more than forty years of career. He was involved in Airbus programmes since 1969 and has been an important part of the success of the company. His professionalism and dedication have contributed to Airbus' position in terms of technology in the market. I am grateful to Alain that he will continue to play a role in representing our industry in European technology programmes", Airbus President and CEO, Louis Gallois said. "The appointment of Patrick Gavin as successor to Alain is a logical choice. His professional experience provides him with the knowledge of what customers want and need in terms of technology and engineering. This makes him the ideal candidate to guide the Airbus Engineering Services into the 21st century. Furthermore, Charles Champion's long experience in the most varied areas of our industry give him a great understanding of the operators' needs to ensure the best and most efficient operations possible of the in service Airbus aircraft fleets," Mr Gallois added.

Until now Patrick Gavin was Executive Vice President Customer Services, a position he held since the year 2000. In this capacity he was responsible for all support activities to customers and has successfully ensured the best possible operation of a fast growing in-service Airbus aircraft fleet, and the development of new customer support products and services leading to an unprecedented high level of customer satisfaction.

Mr Gavin began his professional career at Aerospatiale in 1973 in Toulouse as an Engineer in the Technical Department of Concorde Product Support - Aircraft Division. In 1977, he was appointed to the role of the Division's Assistant Commercial Director in Paris, participating in the marketing, industrial cooperation and launch of new projects.

Mr Gavin returned to Toulouse in 1982 as Product Support Manager for Aerospatiale's Aircraft Division, before being appointed Vice President of ATR's Customer Support Department in 1987, and Managing Director of the Systems and Service business unit of the Aircraft Division in 1990. In January 1996, he became Senior Vice President of Technical and Industrial Strategy of Aerospatiale's Aircraft Division. In July 1996, Mr Gavin was appointed CEO of AI(R), the Regional Aircraft Manufacturer company resulting from the merger between ATR and British Regional Aircraft.

In July 1998, Mr Gavin was appointed President of the Management Board of Eurocopter and two years later he was promoted to EVP Customer Services of Airbus.

Patrick Gavin was born in Paris, France in 1949. He graduated as an engineer, with a major in electronics, in 1972, from the Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Aeronautique et de l'Espace (ENSAE) in Toulouse. Married with one child, Patrick enjoys sports and travelling.

Charles Champion will take over from Patrick Gavin on April 16, and as such is in charge of all support activities to customers and operators, ranging from maintenance and engineering, to training and flight operations, and material and logistical support. Before taking over this function, Mr Champion had been Head of the A380 Programme, a role he held since January 2001.

Charles Champion began his professional career in 1980 with Aerospatiale as an engineer in aerodynamics during his French national military service. He held various positions in the Aircraft Division's Production Department before being in charge of the single-aisle aircraft final assembly lines from 1988 to 1992. During this period, his responsibilities included the development of the A321 final assembly line in Hamburg.

In 1993, Mr Champion was promoted to Director of Airbus Programmes at Aerospatiale's headquarters in Paris. He returned to Toulouse in 1995 as Managing Director of the Future Large Aircraft (FLA) military transport project, now launched as the A400M. In this position, his responsibilities were to establish cost targets, resolve the workshare and start a new business in the military field.

In 1998 Charles Champion joined Airbus Industrie as Vice President Sales for Eastern and Southern Europe and the C.I.S (Commonwealth of Independent States) being in charge of Airbus' commercial activities for some 25 countries. From May 1999 until 2001, he held the position of Product Executive for Airbus' Single Aisle Programme.

Charles Champion was born in 1955 near Paris, France. He graduated from the Ecole Nationale Superieure de l'Aeronautique et de l'Espace in Toulouse in 1978, and holds a Master of Science degree from Stanford University. Married with two children, Mr Champion enjoys running, listening to opera and going to the theatre.