Eutelsat is entering a new chapter following its integration with OneWeb and its alignment with the IRIS2 initiative. The company has announced the appointment of Jean-François Fallacher as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective June 1st, 2025. This decision was made at a Board Meeting on May 4th, 2025, following a recommendation by the Nomination and Governance Committee.
Mr. Fallacher's appointment represents a strategic move to further integrate Eutelsat into the broader telecommunications ecosystem. He brings extensive experience from his long career at Orange, where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Orange France. His leadership roles also extended to Orange operations in Spain, Romania, and Poland. Prior to Orange, his career included positions in R&D, sales, and operations, notably as Chief Operating Officer of Wanadoo in the Netherlands and Chief Executive Officer of Sofrecom, a telecommunications consulting firm. A French national, he is a graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique and Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications in Paris.
Mr. Fallacher succeeds Eva Berneke, who led Eutelsat since January 2022. Her tenure saw significant achievements, including the merger with and integration of OneWeb in 2023—creating the world’s only LEO/GEO satellite operator—the company's selection as a key player in the EU IRIS2 multi-orbit constellation, and the pioneering disposal of its passive ground segment, a first for satellite operators.
Dominique D’Hinnin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Eutelsat, commented: “On behalf of myself, Vice-Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, and the other members of the Board, I warmly thank Eva Berneke for her dynamic and committed leadership through these significant milestones in Eutelsat’s development and for delivering on our telecoms pivot strategy, in a period that has seen significantly increased competitive and geopolitical pressure. “I am delighted to welcome Jean-François Fallacher as he picks up the baton from Eva. With his proven track record of success and wealth of experience and expertise, I am convinced he is the right leader to take Eutelsat forward and successfully steward the company through the opportunities and challenges which will undoubtedly present themselves in the coming years.”
Jean-François Fallacher added: “I am excited to be joining Eutelsat at such a pivotal moment in its history. Technology is evolving faster than ever, and in today’s increasingly complex geopolitical context, satellite networks have become a key element in the Connectivity landscape. I am convinced Eutelsat has the fundamentals to be a winner in this environment, and I look forward to building on Eva’s foundations, and working with its talented teams to ensure we achieve our goals.”