Patrick Ky appointed as new EASA Executive Director

The Management Board of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) today announced the appointment of Mr. Patrick Ky as Executive Director of EASA with effect from 1 September 2013.

Mr. Patrick Ky is currently Executive Director of the Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research (SESAR) Joint Undertaking and has driven the set-up and execution of Europe’s ambitious air traffic management modernisation programme since October 2007.

Mr Ky will succeed Mr Patrick Goudou, who has been Executive Director of EASA since its creation in September 2003 and whose term ends on 31 August 2013.

“I am delighted that the EASA Management Board have nominated Patrick Ky as my successor. Patrick is a leading figure in European aviation and his experience and skills will be a tremendous asset to the Agency. I look forward to working closely with him over the coming months as we prepare the transition,” said Patrick Goudou.

Prior to leading SESAR, Mr Ky held different managerial positions in the French Civil Aviation Authority, a consulting company, and Eurocontrol. In 2004, he joined the European Commission to work on SESAR.

In total, Mr Ky has more than 23 years of work experience in Civil Aviation. A graduate from Ecole Polytechnique and the Civil Aviation Engineering School in France, Mr Ky also holds degrees in economics from the University of Toulouse and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.