THALES (tal-less) Navigation, specializing in the development and manufacturing of GPS equipment for its Magellan, Ashtech, DSNP and MLR product lines, has appointed Dean E. Senner as president and chief executive officer. The company earlier named Henry Gaillard to the position of chief operating officer. Senner brings to his new role more than 20 years of executive and entrepreneurial experience in Fortune 100 technology companies with expertise in profit and loss, strategic planning, engineering, operations and manufacturing. Gaillard's management experience includes five years as CEO of GPS manufacturing companies in France: MLR Electronique, DSNP and, most recently, THALES Navigation, S.A. The new THALES Navigation, headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif, was formed July 2001 after THALES acquired Magellan Corp. "Senner's long history of achievement, especially in satellite communications and electronics businesses, makes us certain he is equipped to lead our worldwide organization to a higher level of overall excellence," Gaillard said. "He has consistently proven his ability to achieve high growth and profitability, and he's done so at much larger companies." Before joining THALES Navigation, Senner was president and chief operating officer of Onvantage, Inc., a business-to-business outsource provider of Internet content delivery solutions and services. Previously, Senner held executive positions within various Lockheed Martin operations, most recently serving as executive vice president of the Commercial Space Systems Company. In this role he was responsible for worldwide operations and development of commercial satellite systems serving the direct broadcast, fixed satellite, mobile satellite, and broadband markets. Prior to that assignment, Senner was vice president of Lockheed Martin's Military Satellite Communication Programs division where he led the development of some of the nation's most sophisticated communication and navigation satellite systems. He also held executive responsibility for the design and development of the next generation of GPS IIR satellites. In addition, Senner brings to THALES Navigation extensive international experience from years spent leading the formation of a telecommunications company in Europe. "This is an exciting opportunity," Senner said. "We have everything we need to accomplish a much greater presence in the GPS industry, including strong worldwide brand recognition, quality products, superior technology and, most important of all, an excellent group of people. As we focus equally on the execution of the fundamentals as well as vigorous product innovation, we are well positioned for strong growth in the consumer electronics, recreation, professional, and automotive markets." Senner holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Warner Pacific College. He has also completed several executive development programs such as the Executive Management Institute at University of Santa Clara, and the Senior Strategic Leadership Institute at Wye River sponsored by the University of Maryland. Gaillard's educational background includes a degree in engineering from Ecole Superieure and an MBA from l'Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Paris. He began his career in GPS and electronics 16 years ago at Dassault Electronique as a project and design engineer. He was later assigned as the company's GPS activities manager, then served as the navigation department manager before accepting his first role as CEO at DSNP in 1996. Gaillard has relocated from France to maintain an office at THALES Navigation's Santa Clara, Calif., headquarters. About THALES Navigation THALES Navigation, headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., is a developer and manufacturer of positioning, navigation, communications and guidance equipment with nearly 600 employees worldwide. Brands include Magellan, MLR, Ashtech, DSNP and THALES Navigation, with products in the consumer electronics, recreation, professional and automotive markets. THALES Navigation is a subsidiary of THALES, a professional electronics company headquartered in Paris, France, with activities in aerospace, defense and information technology and services. For more information, visit www.magellangps.com, www.thales-navigation.com, or www.thalesgroup.com.
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