Being the director-general of the European Space Agency (ESA) is "-like dancing with an octopus", said Jean-Marie Luton as he handed the baton to Antonio Rodota at the Show yesterday.
Luton, the longest-serving director-general of ESA, was making his farewell air show appearance as ESA's leader.
He leaves the agency after heading it for seven gruelling years to become the chairman of Arianespace, after featuring in a bitter political battle over the leadership of the European launcher company.
Arianespace had wanted his chief executive Francis Avanzi to lead the company, after the retirement of Charles Bigot next month.
The French government and some French-led company shareholders wanted to replace Avanzi with Luton.
Rodota, an Italian who headed Alenia Espazio, will become the first ESA director-general to come from industry. He takes over officially on 1 July.
He said that "-some changes would have to take place" in his mind and attitude having come from an industry background into a space agency.
Source: Flight Daily News