Fabien Bortoluzzi Named Managing Director, Thales Western & Central Africa

Sales and account management expert, Fabien Bortoluzzi has been appointed managing director of Thales operations in Western and Central Africa, according to Thales. He will be in charge of leading Thales' civil and defence business in the area in this capacity. 

Fabien Bortoluzzi previously served as Thales Land and Air Systems' Sales Director, Asia Air Defence Systems. He served as Thales Land and Air Systems' Key Account Manager for Air Defence for Indonesia and head of Export Sales for Eurasia and Northern Asia earlier in his career. 

“Thales, which brings technologically advanced solutions in Defence and Security, Digital Identity and Security, Aerospace, and Transportation industries, has been present in Africa for over 50 years, and today employs over 1,200 people in the continent. The Group has established its West and Central Africa headquarter in Dakar, Senegal as well as an office in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. 

Thales has established references in the region and in particular, in Senegal. The Group is partner to the Senegalese Armed Forces, supplying equipment for seamless communications, Air Surveillance and Training & Simulation. The Group is part of some of the country’s major projects, including Train Express Regional (TER) where it provides Signaling (ERTMS), ticketing and passenger information systems.

Headquartered in Dakar, ASECNA, is a key partner for Thales in the region. The region relies on Thales’s Topsky Air Traffic Control system and a complete range of NAVAIDS and Radars for navigation and surveillance to protect more than 16 million km² of airspace. In the space domain, Thales Alenia Space is a partner to the ANGA (Augmented Navigation for Africa) programme, led by ASECNA. This programme aims to provide Satellite Based Augmentation Services (SBAS) throughout the Africa and Indian Ocean (AFI) region.

Thales has made a clear social commitment to promoting a strong corporate social responsibility policy in Africa. As a company embedded in the local ecosystem, Thales Solidarity charitable fund with Learning & Culture team and Polaris Asso, in partnership with UN Women and the Embassy of France in Senegal, have launched a programme to help young Senegalese women pursue digital careers called TECH4SHE.