Blanc to Lead DGA's International Development Office

10 May 2011 By PIERRE TRAN DefenseNews

PARIS - The Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) has appointed Yves Blanc as head of the international development department, widely seen as a vital post in promoting French arms exports, the procurement office said in a statement.

"Yves Blanc joined the Direction Générale de L'armement on May 2 as director of international development," the DGA said. "The appointment was made in the cabinet meeting of April 27 and he succeeds Jacques de Lajugie."

Blanc was director of international and institutional affairs at Eutelsat, the commercial satellite operator. Previously, he held posts at Thomson-CSF and Thomson Multimedia, and worked in the civil service, in the industry and finance ministries as well as in the private office of two ministers.

France needs to boost foreign sales of weapons to offset domestic budget cuts, to maintain industrial capacity and keep production costs down.