Changes of governance at Latecoere with Thierry Mootz being promoted CEO and Greg Huttner being appointed as Deputy CEO, both effective August 2, 2021.

COVID-19 has had a highly disruptive impact on the aerospace sector. The Company immediately embarked upon an extensive program to secure, reset and position Latecoere to grow into a larger, more competitive and resilient global aerospace leader.

The group has completed a number of significant steps to survive the crisis and prepares for growth, including the implementation of rigorous safety standards to protect employees and the adaptation of its workforce and industrial capacities to the new market environment. This required extensive and difficult re-structuring initiatives in order to reset the Company for the forthcoming years ahead. A lower fixed and variable costs structure will enable Latecoere to emerge from the crisis stronger and more competitive

A new strategy and five-year business plan have been approved by the Board of Directors, setting a clear course for the next chapter for Latecoere. The core pillars of the strategy are:

• Operational Excellence and Cost Competiveness
• Organic Growth in traditional markets and adjacent Interconnection Systems markets
• Focused innovation in Aerostructures and Interconnection Systems to improve competitiveness and position Latecoere for the next generation of aircraft
• External Growth (M&A): a key driver of future growth for the business as evidenced by the acquisition of Bombardier EWIS in Mexico (closed February 2021) and the potential acquisition of Technical Airborne Systems in Belgium that was announced today
• Ongoing development of the Latecoere people

The Board of Directors of Latecoere decided yesterday the following changes of governance of the Group:

• Thierry Mootz, current Deputy CEO, will be promoted CEO of Latecoere, effective August 2, 2021
• Grégoire Huttner will be appointed Deputy CEO effective August 2, 2021 and will continue to serve as the General Manager of the Aerostructures Division.

The composition of the Board of Directors will remain unchanged, with Philip Swash to continue as director of Latecoere.

In addition, Christopher Seherr-Thoss has been appointed as Director of M&A, to lead Latecoere’s ambitious inorganic growth strategy.

Commenting on today’s communication, Philip Swash, Chief Executive Officer, said: “It has been a great honor to lead the Latecoere team and re-engage with global Aerospace customers and suppliers. I would like to thank all stakeholders and shareholders for their trust and support. The Company now has the plan and the financing to develop into a truly global leader and I feel that it is now an appropriate time for me to return to a non-executive board position where I shall continue to support Thierry Mootz and the Latecoere team.”

Pierre Gadonneix, Chairman of the Latecoere Board of Directors said: “I would like to thank Philip Swash for agreeing to lead Latecoere at the beginning of a major crisis. He was able to lead the company through this period and ensure a transformation plan that today puts Latecoere on a sound basis to face the future with confidence. I am pleased that he stays involved with the Company as a non-executive director at our Board of Directors. I believe Thierry Mootz is the right man to implement this transformation since he has been with the Company for over 6 years and Latecoere can approach the next chapter with confidence and ambition.”

Thierry Mootz, Deputy Chief Executive Officer said: “I am honored and excited to take the leadership of Latecoere, which is a strong contributor to the Aerospace market in France. Thanks to the job done by Latecoere team, the Company has successfully navigated through the crisis, will emerge stronger from it and is now ready for growth. The recapitalization of the Company will allow us to execute our plan, deliver high performance to our customers and finance growth.”

This information was published in the press release of July 13, 2021.