PARIS — KNDS, the maker of the Leopard 2 main battle tank, named Safran veteran Jean-Paul Alary as chief executive officer to replace Frank Haun, who will step down later this month at the end of his term.
Alary, 58, is currently CEO of Safran Aircraft Engines, and will take the helm at KNDS in April next year, the company said in a statement late Tuesday. Haun will quit his role on Dec. 15, with KNDS Chief Financial Officer Philippe Balducchi serving as interim CEO until Alary takes over at the French-German maker of heavy armor and artillery.
The new CEO’s challenges will include ramping up production to meet surging European demand for tanks and cannons, with the KNDS order book more than doubling last year to €15.7 billion ($16.5 billion). Alary will also oversee first development orders for the Main Ground Combat System, a politically fraught Franco-German project for a future battle tank that’s already more than five years delayed.
“With Jean-Paul Alary, KNDS could win an outstanding expert in technology and management,” KNDS Chairman Philippe Petitcolin said in a statement. “He will further drive KNDS’s innovational power and economic growth.”
With a Frenchman taking over as CEO, the chairman job at KNDS will be filled by a German, according to French newspaper Les Echos, which said Wolfgang Büchele, the former CEO of Linde and Exyte, will replace Petitcolin.
KNDS in April reported its 2023 order intake increased more than 130%, which the company said was the strongest growth among the 15 largest European defense firms. Order intake of €7.8 billion was driven by the Leopard 2A8 main battle tank program, infantry fighting vehicles, Caesar howitzers and a growing need for ammunition, according to the company.
“The defense industry is facing challenging yet opportunity-rich times,” Alary said in a statement. “I look forward to actively shaping these developments as the CEO of KNDS.”
Alary is a graduate of the elite French engineering school CentraleSupélec, and started his career as an engineer at Safran in 1991. He became CEO of Safran Nacelles in 2015 and of the landing systems division in 2018, working under then-Safran CEO Petitcolin, and took charge of the aircraft engine business in 2020.
Safran in November named Stéphane Cueille to head the engine business starting in the first months of 2025, with the company saying Alary had decided to pursue his career outside the group.
KNDS was formed by the 2015 combination of Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and France’s Nexter, and the product portfolio is still split between competing vehicles developed by the French and German predecessor companies. While cooperation between KNDS France and KNDS Deutschland is progressing, the companies were rivals for decades, and real consolidation will require joint projects, Petitcolin said in June.
The company is working with rival Rheinmetall and defense-electronics maker Thales on the MGCS program, which is set to replace France’s Leclerc tanks and Germany’s Leopard tanks some time in the 2040s. Setting up the joint project company “is taking a bit of time,” meaning first development orders will probably be later in 2025 rather than early, Emmanuel Chiva, the head of France’s armaments agency, said in October.
France and Germany signed a letter of intent to develop of a main battle tank in 2018 and gave the go-ahead for an initial architecture study two years later, with the aim at the time to have a successor for the Leopard 2 and Leclerc starting in 2035.
European countries have more than 2,000 Leopard 2 tanks in their inventory, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. With the MGCS now expected in the middle of the 2040s if not later, both KNDS and Rheinmetall are looking to fill the gap, showing off improved tank designs at the Eurosatory defense show in Paris in June.
Despite cooperation on the MGCS project, Alary will face a Rheinmetall that has been aggressively challenging KNDS for tank business in Europe. Rheinmetall won a €288 million contract from Hungary in December 2023 to develop the Panther KF51 to production maturity, and the company in October established a joint venture with Leonardo to build tanks and infantry fighting vehicles for Italy, with the KF51 the basis for a design to replace Italy’s Ariete tanks.
Rudy Ruitenberg is a Europe correspondent for Defense News. He started his career at Bloomberg News and has experience reporting on technology, commodity markets and politics.
## World Today News – Expert Interview
**KNDS Appoints New CEO amidst Surging Demand for European Military Hardware**
**Paris, France:** Following the announcement of Jean-paul Alary as the new CEO of KNDS, world-leading defense contractor, we sat down wiht renowned defense analyst Dr. helene Dubois to discuss the implications of this leadership change and the challenges facing KNDS in the coming years.
**WTN:** Dr. Dubois, what are your initial thoughts on the appointment of Jean-Paul Alary as KNDS CEO?
**Dr. dubois:** Alary brings a wealth of experiance from his time at Safran, particularly in navigating complex technological projects and managing large-scale production. His expertise in aircraft engines, while seemingly disparate, demonstrates a strong understanding of complex mechanical systems vital for a company like KNDS. This appointment signifies KNDS’s commitment to innovation and technological leadership in the defense sector.
**WTN:** Given the surging demand for European military hardware, particularly tanks and artillery, what are the main challenges alary will face?
**Dr. Dubois:** Firstly, ramping up production to meet this overwhelming demand will be a major hurdle. KNDS needs to optimize its supply chains and manufacturing processes to ensure timely delivery without compromising on quality.
Secondly, the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) project is a crucial but complex undertaking. It’s already considerably delayed, and Alary needs to navigate the political sensitivities surrounding this Franco-german collaboration while steering it towards successful completion.
**WTN:** The MGCS is indeed a politically sensitive project. How can Alary ensure its success?
**Dr. dubois:** Clarity and open interaction with both governments will be key. he needs to build trust and foster a collaborative environment where technical challenges are addressed decisively and national interests are balanced effectively.
Furthermore, Alary should focus on clearly defining project milestones and timelines, ensuring accountability and progress tracking.
**WTN:** KNDS’s recent order surge indicates a definite shift in European defense priorities.What long-term trends do you see shaping the industry?
**Dr. Dubois:** The return of conventional warfare in Europe has underscored the need for modern, capable armored vehicles and artillery systems. this trend will likely continue, driving further investment in defense capabilities.
Additionally, we can expect increased focus on technological advancements such as unmanned systems, artificial intelligence integration, and cyber defense capabilities. KNDS, under Alary’s leadership, will need to be at the forefront of these advancements to remain competitive in this evolving landscape.
**WTN:** Thank you, Dr. Dubois, for your insightful analysis.
**Note:** Dr. Helene Dubois is a leading expert on European defense and security affairs with over 20 years of experience. She is a frequent contributor to leading publications and a highly sought-after speaker at industry conferences.
