Swiss space company Ruag Space has named a new chief executive as its parent company shrinks.

André Wall, the CEO of Ruag International, is to also take over the operational management of Beyond Gravity (formerly Ruag Space) from May 1.

He replaces the interim CEO, Luis de León Chardel, who is leaving the Group to pursue a new career.

Wall has been with Ruag since October 2017, first as Senior Vice President Operations, and from May 2020 Luis de León Chardel led the Space segment.

Ruag International in Zurich, Switzerland, is shrinking as it systematically implements its divestment strategy. The deal with Thales for the Simulation & Training business is due to close in the first half of 2022. Recently, the signing with Beretta Holding for the Ammotec ammunition business took place. The MRO unit in Australia is also earmarked for sale.

Ruag Aerostructures is also to be privatized in the medium term, leaving the space business as the sole focus. This has approximately 1600 employees at 12 locations in six countries (Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, Germany, USA and Finland) designing and manufacturing products for satellites and launch vehicles.