Ex-NASA chief to be new EADS North America CEO

(WASHINGTON) - EX-NASA chief Sean O'Keefe is to be the new chief executive of the North American operations of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), a top EADS official said Tuesday.

O'Keefe, former administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), will on November 1 take over from Ralph Crosby, who will remain as chairman of EADS North America.

"We are pleased he has joined our team and look forward to building on the company's success as a US government supplier and industrial partner of choice," said EADS chief executive Louis Gallois.

EADS contributes over 11 billion dollars to the US economy annually and supports more than 200,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services, a companmy statement said.