They're an impressive double act  -- informal, cordial, the joint CEOs of the newly formed EADS who are embarked on eliminating duplications in any other form in what is now the world's third largest aerospace and defense company.

Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich brought aviation journalists from across Europe and the U.S. to Oxford's Keble College last weekend to set out their strategies for achieving total industrial integration of Dasa, Aerospatiale Matra and Casa within EADS in 2002 -- and then to become the world's No. 2.
"We are not keeping three-country companies," they said. Instead, they have five operating divisions, one of which is Airbus, with just one manager in overall charge of each area.

They aim to adopt best practices irrespective of which country they stem from. "We are fighting for company, not for country."

"The only real threat to EADS will be in our failure to succeed in this integration. "We have had to make and take many decisions over the last nine months, but we are both dedicated to the integration of the group as a single entity, and to fighting for its success."

So far some 400 integrating projects have been identified and almost 300 of them are now being implemented. The overall processes to remove duplication and enhance potential in R&D, purchasing, sales and marketing and IT are being driven and controlled by a small core team reporting directly to the two CEOs.

Camus and Hertrich explained quite cheerfully that they were both in charge of everything-with no division of responsibilities.

They do have a cross-reporting principle. But what if they have had difficulty reaching a common position?

"We mull it over for two or three days and then come to a decision," says Hertrich. "It's rather like agreeing with your wife at home."

By Steve Morris