Spot Image announced July 4 that its board of directors named Herve Buchwalter as the company’s new chairman and CEO at a June 22 meeting. He succeeds Jean-Marc Nasr, who left Spot Image to take a position with EADS.

Buchwalter most recently served as head of international business development in the Earth Observation, Navigation and Science Business Division of Astrium.

“I wish to praise the excellent work of my predecessor and the worldwide staff of the Spot Image group throughout the last few years,” Buchwalter said in a statement. “The business strategy has resulted in our strong leadership position in the global Earth observation industry. My goal is to strengthen this leadership.”