Aerospace and defense industry veteran Bruno Rambaud has joined Rockwell Collins as vice president and managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, the company recently announced.

Rambaud, with more than 20 years of industry experience, is responsible for developing the company’s business and overseeing all Rockwell Collins’ operations in the region.

“Bruno’s proven leadership and strong connections with commercial and government organizations throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), will help fuel Rockwell Collins’ growth and foster valued customer relationships,” Walter “Woody” Hogle, senior vice president of International Business for Rockwell Collins, said in a statement.

Rambaud served for the last 11 years in senior management at Thales, most recently as executive vice president, Europe. In that position, he was responsible for the company’s operations in 15 countries, including nearly 50,000 employees. Previously, Rambaud was senior vice president and managing director of Thales’ Land and Joint Systems group, which he rapidly grew into the company’s largest business.

Rambaud is a graduate of Ecole Polytechnique and received an engineering degree from the Ecole Naionale des Ponts et Chaussees. He will be located in Toulouse, France.

In 2008, Rockwell Collins formed a new International Business organization to further increase its focus on commercial and government customers outside of the United States.