Arianespace announces the retirement of Wiener Kernisan; Amer Khouri named president of Arianespace, Inc.

• Wiener Kernisan, current President of Arianespace, Inc., will retire on March 31, 2025, after a distinguished career spanning five decades in the industry.
• Arianespace has appointed industry veteran Amer Khouri as the new President of Arianespace, Inc., leading the company’s U.S. operations.

Arianespace today announces the retirement of Wiener Kernisan, President of Arianespace, Inc. Since assuming the role in September 2016—and previously serving as Vice President of Sales and Marketing since 2000—Kernisan has played a pivotal role in consolidating and expanding the company’s success in the Americas. Under his leadership, the Ariane 5 launch vehicle became a benchmark in the U.S. launch services market, culminating in the historic launch of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Kernisan also laid the groundwork for the transition to Ariane 6 by securing a landmark commercial contract for 18 Ariane 6 launches to deploy a major low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation.

“It has been a great honor to be part of Ariane’s exceptional history and to contribute to its success,” said Wiener Kernisan. “I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the Arianespace teams in Europe, French Guiana, and the U.S. office for their unwavering support. I also deeply appreciate our U.S. customers, who have played a significant role in my rewarding career. With great confidence, I hand over the reins to Amer Khouri as the new President of Arianespace, Inc.”

Arianespace has selected space industry veteran Amer Khouri to lead its U.S. operations as President of Arianespace, Inc., based in Washington, D.C. In this role, Khouri will oversee sales and marketing of Ariane launches to satellite operators in the U.S. and Canada while driving strategic business development and partnerships with emerging industry players. He will also manage Arianespace, Inc.’s communications and government relations efforts.

Khouri brings extensive experience in the satellite industry, having held leadership roles where he successfully launched new products, expanded markets, and developed growth strategies. Before joining Arianespace, he held key executive positions at Northrop Grumman and Orbital Sciences, where he played a crucial role in global satellite sales. He also served as Vice President at Canada’s MDA Space and as Senior Vice President at leading satellite operator Intelsat.

“I am honored to join the talented Arianespace Inc. team,” said Amer Khouri. “I look forward to working closely with our customers and partners to further strengthen Arianespace’s presence in the U.S. and Canada.”

“We extend our deepest gratitude to Wiener Kernisan, whose dedication over 25 years has been instrumental in Arianespace’s success,” said David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespace. “He has left a lasting impact on our company and the industry, achieving record-breaking sales and securing Ariane’s leadership in the commercial launch market.”

“At the same time, we are excited to welcome Amer Khouri as we accelerate the Ariane 6 program to meet the growing demand for access to space. Amer’s deep industry knowledge, experience, and leadership make him the perfect choice to drive launch sales in one of the world’s most dynamic space markets.”