Virgin Galactic Appoints Diane Prins Sheldahl as Executive Vice President of People and Organization

MOJAVE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) (“VG” or “the Company”), a vertically integrated aerospace company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Diane Prins Sheldahl as VG’s Executive Vice President of People and Organization.

Diane will be responsible for leading the Company’s people organization for both VG and The Spaceship Company (TSC). In addition, her team will be responsible for VG’s and TSC’s organizational design and effectiveness and execution of human resources (HR) strategic initiatives.

Diane has over 20 years’ experience in executive leadership roles in HR, as well as in organizational design and effectiveness for start-ups, high growth, and Fortune 50 companies across various high-tech, emerging and mature industries.

Prior to her appointment, Diane held prominent HR positions at Abbott Laboratories, Honeywell, Hewlett-Packard, SpaceX and most recently Calix, Inc. At Calix, Inc, as Senior Vice President, Talent and Culture, she led all aspects of human resources and the workplace experience. She earned her MBA from University California, Irvine and a Bachelor’s in Industrial Relations from Syracuse University, New York.

Commenting on the new appointment, George Whitesides, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Galactic, said:
“I’m delighted to have Diane join our team. She has a wealth of experience leading people organizations for innovative companies across the globe. Her appointment signifies the growing scale of our operations as we continue to build towards commercial spaceflights. We need the best and brightest and Diane’s appointment will help us ensure that Virgin Galactic remains a preferred employer in the commercial space industry at this pivotal and exciting time.”

Diane Prins Sheldahl, Executive Vice President of People and Organization, Virgin Galactic, commented:
“I am excited to be a part of the Virgin Galactic team. This role, in partnership with George and the team has the opportunity to build upon the company’s relentless focus on talent that enables our company’s purpose and mission.”

About Virgin Galactic Holdings

Virgin Galactic is a vertically integrated aerospace company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers, as well as a manufacturer of advanced air and space vehicles. Using its proprietary and reusable technologies and supported by a distinctive, Virgin-branded customer experience, it is developing a spaceflight system designed to offer customers a unique, multi-day, transformative experience. This culminates in a spaceflight that includes views of Earth from space and several minutes of weightlessness that will launch from Spaceport America, New Mexico. Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company believe that one of the most exciting and significant opportunities of our time lies in the commercial exploration of space and the development of technology that will change the way we travel across the globe in the future. Together we are opening access to space to change the world for good.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the registration statement on Form S-4 filed in connection with the Business Combination and other documents filed by VG from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.