EADS Space fills govt affairs post

Tom Williams, PR Week UK, Friday, 06 August 2004, 12:00am,

EADS Space – the space-rocket arm of missile and weapons maker EADS – has hired Society of British Aerospace Companies government relations manager Tom Gunner to handle UK government relations.

Gunner, who spent five years in government relations at SBAC, starts work at EADS Space as head of UK government affairs on 13 September. The current post-holder, Sue Johnson, is on ‘an extended leave of absence’, according to EADS.

Gunner’s main responsibilities will be to curry favour with government departments likely to invest in satellite technology.

The company hopes the MoD will take an interest in new technology designed to make satellite radar imaging as clear as images from an optical satellite.

Gunner will report to Colin Paynter, UK managing director at EADS Astrium – EADS’s satellite business – and Paris-based EADS Space head of institutional relations Gilles Maquet.