O’Keefe Named Chairman of EADS North America’s Board

Sean O’Keefe, EADS North America’s chief executive officer is now also chairman of the company’s board of directors, announced the company Tuesday. Effective on Jan. 1, he replaced Ralph Crosby, who has retired, in the chairman’s role. “EADS North America just concluded a remarkable year in 2011, having successfully expanded our product portfolio in the US, increased the company’s recognition with our federal and military customers, and extended our record of within-budget and on-time deliveries of the UH-72A Lakota light utility helicopter to our US military customers,” said O’Keefe. He added, “Ralph Crosby’s leadership over the last nine years was foundational to these successes.” O’Keefe, a former Navy Secretary and NASA administrator, became CEO of EADS North America in November 2009.