01/04/2026
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Géraldine Naja took up obligation as Director of Area Transportation (D/STS) on the European Area Company on 1 April 2026. She is going to proceed to function head of her former directorate, now referred to as the Commercialisation and Trade Partnership directorate (D/CIP), as performing director.
On taking on her new position, she acknowledged: “As I step into this place, I intend to construct on the stable foundations already in place, whereas strengthening Europe’s aggressive edge in entry to house and shaping its future transportation panorama.”
Previous to getting into her new position, Géraldine Naja led the Directorate of Commercialisation, Trade and Competitiveness (D/CIC), now advanced into the Directorate of Commercialisation and Trade Partnership (D/CIP). In that capability, she superior commercialisation and competitiveness as a strategic precedence for ESA, growing new approaches and devices to strengthen the European house sector and foster a extra dynamic, market-oriented ecosystem.
A French nationwide, Ms Naja is a graduate of École Polytechnique and École Nationale Supérieure de Strategies Avancées (ENSTA), and holds a Grasp’s diploma in political science from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po).
She joined ESA in 1987 as a Payload Operations Engineer within the Area Station Directorate. Over the course of her profession, she has held a variety of senior strategic and programmatic positions throughout the company, together with Head of Lengthy-term Area Coverage Workplace, Head of Strategic and Institutional Issues within the Director Basic’s Cupboard, Head of EU Relations Workplace, Senior Advisor to the Director of Launchers, and Head of the Industrial Coverage and Audit Division.
A distinguished profession: Toni Tolker-Nielsen
After practically 4 a long time of service to ESA, Toni Tolker-Nielsen is retiring from ESA. He has served as Director of Area Transportation since 1 July 2023, following a protracted and distinguished profession spanning a number of management roles throughout the company.
Throughout his most up-to-date tenure, ESA strengthened Europe’s impartial entry to house, together with the stabilisation of exploitation for Ariane 6 and Vega-C, whereas making ready the subsequent era of capabilities by initiatives such because the European Launcher Problem.
ESA Director Basic Josef Aschbacher commented: “From Seville to Bremen and past, his imprint on Europe’s launch sector is unmistakable – and ESA will really feel very totally different with out Toni.”
His presence at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana for quite a few launches, together with the inaugural launch of Ariane 6 and return to flight of Vega-C, turned emblematic of his dedication. Colleagues additionally recall the non-public heat and unfiltered authenticity he dropped at the company.
Reflecting on his profession, Mr Tolker-Nielsen mentioned: “It’s with a deep sense of delight in our collective achievements that I thank all these with whom I’ve labored. ESA is – and can stay – the house of European cooperation in house, the place individuals come collectively as one workforce, pushed by a powerful workforce spirit to deliver formidable house programmes to life.”
Géraldine Naja’s appointment marks an extra step in ESA’s organisational transformation, as endorsed by Member States on the ESA Ministerial Council in November 2025. This transformation is being applied in phases, with the institution of recent directorates and the evolution of management roles to place ESA on the forefront of a quickly altering house sector.
Additional bulletins relating to ESA’s senior administration are anticipated in June.
