The key executives of nine European satellite operators met in Brussels on 1 March to sign the Articles of Association that form the European Satellite Operators Association.
ESOA, a non-profit organisation to be based in Brussels, will represent the interests of European satellite operators before key European organisations including the European Commission, Parliament, Council and the European Space Agency as well as any other relevant international organisations.
Founding members of ESOA are: Europe*Star, Eutelsat S.A., Hispasat, Inmarsat Ventures PLC, New Skies Satellites NV, Nordic Satellite AB, SES GLOBAL, Telenor Broadband Services AS and Telespazio.
The General Meeting appointed the Board of Directors, comprising the Chief Executive Officers or Chairmen of the Board of each of the operators.
The Board is led by Romain Bausch, President and CEO of SES GLOBAL, who has been elected Chairman of the Board of ESOA and Jacinto Garcia Palacios, CEO of HISPASAT and Salvatore Pinto, CEO of Telespazio, as Vice Chairmen of the Board, each of whom have been appointed for a one year term.
An Executive Committee to support the Board will meet regularly comprised of representatives of each satellite operator, and is led by Barry Saunders, Eutelsat S.A., Chairman, Andrew D'Uva, New Skies Satellites N.V., Vice Chairman and Christine Leurquin, SES GLOBAL, Treasurer.
ESOA will pursue five priorities in 2002:
