Henri Ziegler
Henri Ziegler | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 18, 1906 Limoges, France |
| Died | July 24, 1998 (aged 91) Paris, France |
| Occupation(s) | Aerospace engineer, air force officer, test pilot, executive |
| Known for | Inaugural president and CEO of Airbus; founding Airbus Industrie |
Henri Ziegler CVO, CBE (born 18 November 1906 in Limoges, died 24 July 1998 in Paris) was a pivotal figure and the inaugural president of Airbus. As an engineer educated at École Polytechnique and Supaéro, he also served as a French air force officer and test pilot. Together with Roger Béteille and Felix Kracht, he played a crucial role in founding Airbus Industrie and acted as its first CEO. In 1969, Ziegler successfully obtained French governmental backing for the development of the Airbus A300B, setting Airbus on the trajectory toward international aerospace prominence.
Early life
In 1938, Ziegler was appointed assistant director at the Centre d'Essais en Vol. During World War II, he actively participated in the French Resistance. By 1944, he had taken command of the Free French air forces based in London and served as chief of staff for the French Forces of the Interior under General Koenig. His military service earned him numerous decorations, notably the Croix de guerre 1939–1945 with three palms.
Aerospace career
Between 1946 and 1954, Ziegler held the position of managing director at Air France while representing France’s interests in both Britain and the United States. He established Air Alpes, led Avions Breguet as well as Sud Aviation from 1968, and oversaw the Franco-British supersonic aircraft initiative Concorde. From 1970 until 1973, he was president and CEO of SNIAS, which later became Aérospatiale. Concurrently, between 1971 and 1973, he directed Usias, the trade association for French aerospace manufacturers. Ziegler concluded his tenure at Airbus in 1975. In recognition of his outstanding impact on commercial aviation, he received the Tony Jannus Award in 1973. His legacy continued through his son Bernard Ziegler, who served as Airbus Director of Engineering.
Honours
Throughout his career, Ziegler was awarded numerous prestigious honors including Grand Officer of the Légion d'honneur, honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), and honorary Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO). During a ceremony in 2006 dedicating an Airbus delivery center in Toulouse bearing his name, Airbus CEO Gustav Humbert remarked, "There would be no Airbus without Henri Ziegler."