Olivier Andries has been selected to succeed to Philippe Petitcolin as the Chief Executive Officer of the French aerospace and defense group Safran. Currently President of Safran Aircraft Engines, Andries will take office on January 1, 2021.

Andries was selected by the Board of Directors of Safran on October 4, 2019. Starting next year, he will work on “specific missions” under the authority of Philippe Petitcolin, during a one-year transition period. “I am delighted at the prospect of working with my successor throughout 2020, thus laying the basis for a seamless transition at the helm of Safran,” said Philippe Petitcolin, Safran’s current Chief Executive in a statement.

Andries held several positions within EADS (now Airbus Group) between 2000 and 2008, his last role being Head of Strategy. He then joined the Safran group in 2008 as Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Strategy and Development of the Group, before becoming successively Deputy General Manager of the Defense & Security Division in 2009 and Chairman and CEO of Safran Helicopter Engines in 2011. As President of the Safran Aircraft Engines division since June 2015, he was in charge of the ramp-up of the LEAP engine output (assembled by CFM International, a joint venture between GE Aviation and Safran)  for the Boeing 737 MAX and the Airbus A320neo.