Spain worries over EADS management feud

Airline Industry Information, Dec 13, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

A management feud at EADS, the European aerospace company, concerns Spain.

The country is anxious to see the German-French management of the company continue, according to Expansion, a Spanish financial newspaper. Spain holds a 5.6% stake in EADS and the country apparently fears that a power struggle could give a French manager the upper hand. The Spanish newspaper quoted sources said to be close to the Spanish government.

There has reportedly been an escalation of a leadership feud on the French side of EADS after Noel Forgeard, the head of the Airbus aircraft unit, announced publicly his interest in being co-chief executive officer of EADS and this put doubt on the position of Philippe Camus.

A French upper hand could mean that EADS would transfer some business from Spanish to French parts of the consortium, the newspaper added.

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