Louis René Fernand Gallois (born 26 January 1944 in Montauban, Tarn-et-Garonne) is a French businessman and currently the CEO of EADS.
Gallois was raised in Montauban, where he obtained the degree of Baccaulaureat in 1961. He next attended business school at HEC, graduating in 1966. He then graduated from the administration school ENA in 1972.
Gallois headed several government departments during his career.[1] He was appointed head of the civil and military cabinet in the French defense ministry (1988–1989). He was Chairman and CEO of Snecma from 1989 to 1992, when he became CEO of Aérospatiale. He headed that company until 1996, when he became President of SNCF.[2]
Gallois joined EADS on 2 July 2006 following the resignation of Noël Forgeard. Forgeard resigned after allegations of insider trading, which he denied. Forgeard sold EADS stock weeks before its Airbus subsidiary announced the Airbus A380 would be delayed again. The announcement caused a 26% slump in the EADS share price.
On 9 October 2006 Gallois replaced Christian Streiff as the CEO of the aircraft manufacturer Airbus S.A.S. On 16 July 2007 EADS's management structure was changed and Gallois became single CEO of EADS.
Gallois has been a member of EADS' Board of Directors since 2000. In addition to that, he is a member of the Board of Directors of Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures and President of the Fondation Villette – Entreprises.