YANNICK ASSOUAD

About YANNICK ASSOUAD

Yannick Assouad is a French industrial executive widely recognized in the aerospace and defense ecosystem for her expertise in engineering-led businesses, complex industrial operations and high-technology product development. She graduated from the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon and the Illinois Institute of Technology. Her career began in 1986 at Thomson-CSF, now Thales, where she held several management and operational roles before broadening her leadership experience across other major aerospace companies. She later took on senior leadership positions at Zodiac Aerospace, where she became Chief Executive Officer of the Cabin division in 2015, after joining the group in 2012. In that role, she was responsible for an international industrial business serving aircraft manufacturers and airlines, with a strong focus on operational execution, innovation and commercial growth. Her tenure at Zodiac strengthened her profile as a leader able to manage transformation, scale industrial activities and deliver performance in a demanding global market. In 2020, Thales appointed her Executive Vice-President, Avionics, placing her in charge of one of the group’s strategic businesses. She oversees a broad portfolio of avionics systems, equipment and digital solutions for aircraft manufacturers, airlines and operators. Her mandate is closely aligned with Thales’s strategy to expand in connected avionics, cockpit digitalization, predictive maintenance and aviation decarbonization. Recent Thales press releases consistently quote her on topics such as more sustainable air travel, operational efficiency, connected passenger experiences and international partnerships, including major initiatives in India, Qatar and with leading airlines. Beyond Thales, Assouad also serves on the Board of Directors of VINCI, where she is described as an independent director and, in governance documents, as lead director and chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee. This combination of executive and board-level responsibilities underlines a rare depth of experience in corporate governance, strategic oversight and large-cap listed-company leadership.