Our Governance

At MBDA, we promote and embody international cooperation and governance. Since its creation, our Group has built an ‘integrated’ model.

Executive Committee

Our Group’s corporate governance takes into account the Group’s specific and unique integrated organisational model in the defence industry. It specifies the distribution of roles and responsibilities within the Group, and is built around an MBDA Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Executive Committee, the national companies’ Managing Directors and other key stakeholders.

We operate in accordance with MBDA Operational Framework and Principles of Operations. Most functions within MBDA's integrated model have cross-functional committees responsible for developing policies and best practices for their respective activities and operations.

A detailed Business Management System contains all our policies, processes and procedures that govern the day-to-day operations of MBDA's functions and corporate structures. This ensures that all relevant stakeholders can act in compliance with applicable laws and MBDA guidelines.

Our shareholders are three leading players in aerospace and defence: Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo.

The Board of Directors, which comprises shareholders’ nominees, provides MBDA’s objectives and strategy. The CEO conducts the overall management of MBDA Group.

The Executive Committee assists the CEO in carrying out their responsibilities. Its main mission is to ensure efficient Group coordination, especially for the most complex and sensitive topics to be addressed by MBDA. 

We believe that leadership is not just about making decisions, but also about fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration. Through regular meetings, cross-functional initiatives and communication, our Executive Committee ensures alignment across the organisation and adaptability in an evolving geopolitical landscape.

Eric Béranger

Eric Béranger

  • Chief Executive Officer
Eric Béranger

Eric Béranger

  • Chief Executive Officer

Eric Béranger is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MBDA since June 2019.

Since he joined the company, MBDA has continued to grow as a unique and successful model of a European integrated Defence company. By fostering cooperation at the service of the sovereignty of our nations and their allies, the nearly 20,000 employees, 5B€ turnover Group has proven to be more relevant than ever.

Prior to joining MBDA, Eric was the Chief Executive Officer of OneWeb, scaling up this high technology, disruptive Unicorn aimed at offering affordable broadband Internet access to everyone, everywhere, anytime on Earth.

In 2014, as the head of Programs in the new organization “Airbus Defence and Space”, his contribution led to the award of the first full electric propulsion commercial satellites contracts from SES and Eutelsat.

In 2012, he became CEO of Astrium Satellites, and led this 10,000 employees satellite manufacturer into two world firsts.
He created Astrium Services in 2003. Under his leadership as the CEO, the company grew its revenues and workforce more than 15 fold from 2003 to 2012 and achieved major successes.

Between 1988 and 2000, he held management positions in engineering, operations and finance at France Telecom, Société Générale, and Matra Marconi Space (now Airbus Defence and Space). At the inception of EADS in 2000, he was appointed Senior Vice President Marketing for all space activities.

Colonel in the citizen reserve of the French Air Force, he is a graduate engineer from the Ecole Polytechnique and Telecom Paris.
 

Chris Allam

  • Executive Group Director Engineering
  • Managing Director MBDA United Kingdom

Chris Allam

  • Executive Group Director Engineering
  • Managing Director MBDA United Kingdom

Chris was appointed Executive Group Director Engineering in 2018 and Managing Director United Kingdom in 2018.

He joined MBDA from BAE Systems where he was the Managing Director Future Programmes and Services, and Engineering Director for the Military Air and Information Business.

He had worked for BAE Systems since 1988.

He graduated from the University of Hertfordshire where he gained a BEng in Aeronautical engineering. He is also a Fellow of both the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Thomas Gottschild

  • Executive Group Director Strategy
  • Managing Director MBDA Germany

Thomas Gottschild

  • Executive Group Director Strategy
  • Managing Director MBDA Germany

Thomas was appointed Managing Director of MBDA Germany GmbH in July 2016. He was also named Executive Group Director Strategy in January 2018.

Previously he was responsible for the MBDA’s efficiency and improvement programmes in his position as Executive Group Director Improvement. Thomas joined AIRBUS Defence & Space in 1996. From 2008 until 2011, Thomas was the associate head of the EADS Brussels office, with the title EADS Director EU Defence Policy.

Between 2011 and 2014, he headed the Technical Sales Support and subsequently the Porholio Management units at Cassidian Mission Systems. From 2014 until the end of 2015, he was responsible for the strategy of the Space Systems division.

After completing his Abitur in 1988, Thomas served in the German armed forces in the field of air defence for two years. He then graduated in electrical engineering from the University of Siegen.

Stéphane Reb

  • Executive Group Director Programmes
  • Managing Director MBDA France

Stéphane Reb

  • Executive Group Director Programmes
  • Managing Director MBDA France

Stéphane was appointed Executive Group Director Programs in July 2018, and later named Managing Director France in June 2019.

Prior to joining MBDA in 2017, Stéphane held the role of International Director within the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), the French Government defence procurement and technology agency.

Stéphane began his career at the DGA in 1991 as a responsible for tactical missiles studies.

He subsequently occupied various positions of responsibility in the fields of missiles and aerospace. In 2001, he moved to OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement / Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation) in Bonn, taking charge of the Tiger helicopter programme. Stéphane returned to the DGA in 2007 as Rafale Programme Director and was appointed to lead the Rafale Management Unit before joining the DGA’s International Directorate.

Lorenzo Mariani

  • Executive Group Director - Sales & Business Development
  • Managing Director MBDA Italia

Lorenzo Mariani

  • Executive Group Director - Sales & Business Development
  • Managing Director MBDA Italia

Lorenzo Mariani was appointed Executive Group Director Sales & Business Development MBDA and Managing Director of MBDA Italia in April 2025. He held the same role between 2020 and 2023.

He joined MBDA after spending his career in positions of increasing importance within Leonardo, where his most recent role - between 2023 and 2025 - was Co-General Manager and Director of Business Operations.

He had previously been Managing Director of the Land & Naval Defence Electronics Division in Leonardo. From 2017 he was Chief Commercial Officer, and additionally, from May 2018, he was Chief Executive Officer of Leonardo International holding both posts until his departure to join MBDA in 2020.

Prior to that, Mr Mariani had been at SELEX Sistemi Integrati, which he joined in 2006, after his first experience in MBDA. Positions held there included Deputy Chief Operating Officer (July 2010 - November 2011) and Chief Operating Officer (December 2011 - December 2012).

From 1992 to 2002, he worked for Alenia and AMS.

Lorenzo Mariani achieved a degree with honours in Electronic Engineering degree in 1990, and served as an Officer of the Italian Navy in 1991.
 
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