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Since the creation of Exail in 2022 — born from the merger between iXblue and ECA Group —Fabien Napolitano and Thomas Buret have served as Co-Chief Executive Officers of the new group.
Together, they have been key contributors to Exail’s sustained growth over the past two decades. With their in-depth knowledge of the company and close ties to the teams, they remain deeply involved in critical operations while jointly steering Exail’s long-term vision: to become a European leader in robotics, photonics, and navigation technologies.
Fabien Napolitano
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Exail
With a strong background in mathematics, engineering, and technology management, Fabien Napolitano has made significant contributions to the development and growth of Exail over the years.
A graduate of École Normale Supérieure de la rue d’Ulm, Fabien began his career in academia as an Assistant and Professor in Mathematics and Computer Science at University Paris Dauphine, where he also conducted research in pure mathematics under the supervision of renowned mathematician Professor Vladimir I. Arnold.
He joined iXblue in 2000 and played a pivotal role in the development of its first inertial navigation systems, now deployed on hundreds of subsea and surface vehicles worldwide. Between 2004 and 2007, he led the Acoustic Systems division in Brest, overseeing the development of subsea positioning solutions, as well as advanced navigation and sonar processing software.
In 2008, Fabien took the lead of iXblue’s Inertial Navigation division, where he drove the development of high-performance systems, now adopted by over 50 navies worldwide, while also introducing more compact and accessible solutions for new markets.
Appointed Chief Technical and Product Officer in 2011, Fabien shaped the company’s technological strategy across multiple business lines, including inertial, acoustic, and quantum technologies. He became Chief Operating Officer in 2017 and was appointed CEO in 2019, guiding the company through a major phase of innovation and growth.
Author of over 30 scientific publications in the fields of mathematics, navigation, acoustic systems, and cold atoms and holder of 9 patents, Fabien combines deep technical expertise with visionary leadership to drive Exail’s ambition as a global high-tech industrial player.
Thomas Buret
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Exail
Thomas Buret brings over two decades of experience in high-tech industries, with a proven track record in steering complex technological programs and driving international business development.
An engineering graduate from École Centrale de Marseille and holder of a Master’s in Business Management from HEC Paris, Thomas began his career as an R&D engineer in Sweden. He joined iXblue in the early 2000s, where he progressively took on broader responsibilities, contributing significantly to the company’s growth and technological leadership.
He initially led the development of a high-grade inertial navigation system co-developed with Airbus and adopted by major international space programs, Astrix. He later spearheaded the expansion of Exail’s inertial navigation portfolio for defense applications, securing key programs such as the UK Royal Navy’s Astute-class submarines and Naval Group’s FDI frigates, and driving the company’s entry into land defense markets with the dedicated Advans inertial systems product line.
Appointed Chief Operating Officer of iXblue in 2019, Thomas oversaw the company’s expansion into strategic defense and civil markets, including quantum technologies and autonomous systems. Following the creation of Exail in 2022, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the group’s industrial strategy and global development.
Thomas leads Exail’s vision to deliver fully integrated, high-performance solutions across the most demanding sectors—from defense and maritime autonomy to subsea exploration—while accelerating the company’s international growth.