Eric Morel de Westgaver

Director of Strategy, Legal and External Affairs and Head of HQ Paris, ESA

Eric Morel de Westgaver was named as Director of European, Legal and International Matters on 20 May 2021 (renamed Director of Strategy, Legal and External Affairs on 1 April 2024). He was appointed Head of HQ Paris on 1 October 2016.

Eric Morel de Westgaver graduated in Economics from the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. He joined ESA in 1987 as Industrial Policy Officer in the Directorate of Administration. In 2001, he became Head of the Industrial Policy and Cost Analysis Department in the Directorate of Industrial Matters and Technology Programmes.

Mr Morel de Westgaver had been Director of Procurement, Financial Operations and Legal Affairs since April 2011 and before that, Head of the Procurement Department since October 2004 in the Directorate of Resources Management and Industrial Matters. In addition to this responsibility he was nominated Associate Director for Industrial Matters by the Director General in February 2010. In November 2013, he became Director of Industry, Procurement and Legal Services (D/IPL).

On 20 May 2021, a reorganisation was announced, with the setting up of the new Directorate of European, Legal and International Matters, for which Mr Morel de Westgaver was assigned as Director. The Directorate of European, Legal and International Matters was renamed Directorate of Strategy, Legal and External Affairs from 1 April 2024.