Jean-Marie Luton joined the French National Scientific Organisation in 1961 and was detached to the Ministry of Industrial and Scientific Development 10 years later.
In 1974, he joined French space agency CNES, eventually becoming assistant director-general 10 years later, before joining Aerospatiale as director of space programmes.
Luton returned to CNES as director-general in 1989 and, a year later, was appointed director-general of the European Space Agency (ESA).
In 1997, he became chairman and chief executive of Arianespace in a controversial political move, during which the heir apparent to the former supremo, Charles Bigot - who retired last July - was ousted.
Source: Flight International