New management appointments at Safran

Safran has made several management appointments, effective July 1st.

General William Kurtz, 53, is named Military Advisor to Jean-Paul Herteman, Chairman and CEO of Safran. He replaces Baudouin Albanel, who is retiring.

A graduate of the French air force academy (1982), commissioned as a fighter pilot in 1986, William Kurtz started his career as a pilot in the 33rd reconnaissance squadron based in Strasbourg before being named second-in-command of the Patrouille de France aerobatics team in 1993 then Team Leader in 1995.

The following year he joined the “Instruction” office of air force headquarters in Metz, then moved to the joint services defense academy in 1997. In 1998, he become second-in-command, then commander of a fighter squadron, before moving to the Paris-based armed forces headquarters in 2001. He joined the armed forces inspectorate general in 2004 as head of the Forces-Operations office, and was subsequently named commander of the air force base in Djibouti in 2006. In 2008, he was named Communications special advisor to the air force chief of staff, and also head of the French air force communications and public relations unit, SIRPA. He was promoted to the rank of general in 2011, and served as Commander of French forces stationed in Djibouti from 2011 to 2013.

Franck Saudo, 37, is named Executive Vice President, Operator Customers at Turbomeca (Safran), replacing Bruno Even, who is now Chief Executive Officer of Sagem.

A graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique (2000) and the London School of Economics (2003), named “Ingénieur du Corps des Ponts et Chaussées” (public works engineering corps) in 2003, Franck Saudo started his career in 2003 at the Treasury Department of the French Ministry of Finance as head of financial markets. He was then placed in charge of issues concerning international debt and the Club de Paris. In June 2007, he was named financial sector advisor to the cabinet of the French Minister of the Economy, Industry and Employment. He joined Safran in 2011 as deputy to the Group’s Executive Vice President for Strategy and Development.

David Quancard, 52, is named director of the Space Engines division at Snecma (Safran), replacing Martin Sion, who is now Chairman and CEO of Aircelle.

A graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique (1983) and ENSTA (1985) engineering schools, David Quancard started his career in 1985 as deputy to the Ariane 5 program director at SNPE Propulsion. In 1990, he was named Vice President, Quality, then Vice President, Engineering and Production at Regulus (the French Guiana-based joint venture which was owned 60% by Fiat Avio and 40% by SNPE at the time). In 1995, he was named Vice President, sales and programs at SNPE Propulsion. From 1999 to 2002, he was deputy head of production at Arianespace, then Vice President for Production. In 2003, he was named Chief Executive Officer of Roxel (the equally-owned subsidiary of MBDA and Safran), the European leader in tactical propulsion.