HERVE DERREY

About HERVE DERREY

Hervé Derrey is a French executive in the aerospace and digital technology sectors, best known as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thales Alenia Space and as Executive Vice President, Space at Thales. In these roles, he leads one of Europe’s flagship space joint ventures, jointly owned by Thales and Leonardo, at the center of major satellite programs spanning telecommunications, Earth observation, navigation, and exploration. His profile combines strong industrial leadership, deep experience in digital transformation, critical systems, and an international management background. A graduate of École Polytechnique and Télécom ParisTech, and also holding a degree from the Institut des Hautes Études de Défense Nationale (IHEDN), Derrey began his career at Alcatel in 1991, working in mobile network infrastructure. Over the years, he held a series of management positions in France and abroad, with a focus on mobile networks, broadband internet, and digital transformation. In 2001, he was appointed to lead Alcatel’s e-Business transformation program, and in 2005 he became Vice President for Network Integration. This early career gave him broad expertise in complex technology environments, large-scale integration, and industrial change management. He joined Thales in 2011 as Vice President, Strategic Networks and Infrastructure, later expanding his responsibilities in secure communications. He subsequently served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Secure Information and Communications Systems global business unit before being appointed CEO of Thales Alenia Space in February 2020. Since then, he has also been a member of Thales’ Executive Committee. His leadership has coincided with a period defined by European space sovereignty, sustainable space operations, industrial resilience, and deeper cross-border cooperation. He has been associated with initiatives around responsible space practices, innovation, and the strengthening of European partnerships. Overall, his career reflects a technology-driven and strategically minded executive, with a proven track record in managing major transformations and high-stakes industrial programs.