Eutelsat announce appointment of Eric Labaye as chairman during board reorganization and strategic shift
Eutelsat Communications, a leading global satellite operator, has announced a significant change in leadership. Effective August 4, 2025, Eric Labaye will assume the role of Chairman, taking over from Dominique D'Hinnin [1][2][3].
Eric Labaye brings a wealth of experience to his new position. He has worked with international clients in the telecommunications, high-tech, and industrial sectors, as well as governments and public institutions on strategic and operational matters. Labaye's impressive resume includes serving as Chairman and President of École Polytechnique, a prestigious French engineering school, and Managing Director of the French office of McKinsey & Company for eight years. His strategic expertise and leadership background are seen as valuable assets for guiding Eutelsat in its next development phase [2][3].
Labaye succeeds Dominique D'Hinnin, who led Eutelsat through a period of significant change. D'Hinnin oversaw a major strategic shift for the company, including its successful telecom pivot, which has positioned Eutelsat to provide its customers with a superior satellite-based connectivity service on a worldwide basis [1][2][3]. D'Hinnin's leadership was particularly notable in the merger with OneWeb, creating the first combined GEO/LEO satellite constellation [1][2][3].
The Board of Directors approved Labaye's appointment and also approved the resignation of Michel Combes, effective August 3, 2025. The Board also co-opted Lucia Sinapi-Thomas as an independent Board member. Sinapi-Thomas, who has over 20 years' experience within the Capgemini group, will bring her expertise in roles including Group Tax Director, Head of Corporate Finance, Treasury and Investor Relations, Risk Management and Insurance [1].
Guillemette Kreis, the Director of Shareholdings for Services and Finance at Agence des participations de l'État (APE), part of France Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, has been appointed as the representative of the French State on the Eutelsat Communications' Board of Directors. Kreis, a graduate of Université Paris I - Sorbonne and HEC, Paris, has worked in the French public sector and the international media industry [1].
With these changes, the Eutelsat Communications' Board of Directors will be composed of 10 members, of which 6 Independent Directors. Notably, the Board will include five women, equating to a representation of 50% [1].
Eric Labaye expressed enthusiasm for contributing to the company’s innovative growth in satellite connectivity [2]. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Vice-President and Co-Chair of the Board, Eutelsat Communications Board, expressed gratitude for D'Hinnin's leadership and welcomed Labaye's appointment [1].
[1] Business Wire [2] Financial Times [3] Reuters
- Eric Labaye, with his extensive experience in the telecommunications, high-tech, and industrial sectors, and a background in strategic and operational matters, will leverage technology to drive innovative growth in satellite connectivity for Eutelsat Communications as he takes on the role of Chairman, following his appointment by the Board of Directors.
- Infrastructure development will be crucial for Eutelsat's next phase of growth, and investing in satellite-based connectivity services globally is seen as a key strategy to provide superior services to customers, a move inspired by D'Hinnin's successful leadership, which included overseeing Eutelsat's telecom pivot and merger with OneWeb to create a combined GEO/LEO satellite constellation.
- The merger with OneWeb and Eutelsat's strategic shift will be financed by the company, with the support of other global investors, as Eutelsat moves towards a future of broader broadcasting capabilities and advanced satellite technology.
