- Margherita Cardi has been promoted to VP of European Operations and Head of Strategic Programs at Terran Orbital
- She will lead all operations in Italy and report directly to President and CEO Peter Krauss
- Cardi joined Tyvak International in 2016 as its third employee and has held roles across systems engineering, program management and business development
Terran Orbital has named Margherita Cardi as vice president of European Operations and head of strategic programs, placing her at the top of the company’s European organizational structure. She will report to Peter Krauss, president and CEO of Terran Orbital and managing director of Tyvak International, the company said.
What Will Margherita Cardi Do in Her New Role?
Cardi will take charge of Tyvak International’s day-to-day operations in Italy, including all local functions and departments. She will also drive the delivery of the company’s European program portfolio and manage ongoing relationships with institutional, government and commercial clients across the region. Krauss retains his role as Managing Director and legal corporate representative of Tyvak International.
What Has Cardi Done at the Company?
One of the company’s earliest hires, Cardi came on board in 2016 as Tyvak International’s third employee. In the years since, she has worked across systems engineering, program management, business development and executive leadership, steadily taking on broader organizational responsibility. Her most recent position was Vice President of Programs and Business Development, where she managed a multidisciplinary team covering those three core functions.
Her work has included programs for the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency, as well as commercial customers. She has spoken at industry events and given a TEDx Talk, and prior to joining Tyvak International spent time at Vitrociset S.p.A. supporting the Vega launch program, including on-site launch campaigns at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. She holds two advanced degrees from Sapienza University of Rome: a master’s in Space Engineering and a second-level master’s in Space Systems and Services.
One of the more prominent programs on Cardi’s record is Milani, a CubeSat built for ESA’s Hera mission to the Didymos binary asteroid system. She managed the spacecraft from development through delivery. Hera is due to reach Didymos in late 2026, with Milani set for release in early 2027 to conduct a close-up study of the asteroid system.
What Did CEO Peter Krauss Say About the Promotion?
Krauss pointed to Cardi’s institutional knowledge and record of execution as the basis for the decision.
“Margherita has been an important part of Tyvak International almost from the beginning, and she has grown as a leader alongside the organization. She understands our customers, our programs and, most importantly, our people. She has proven that she can lead complex missions, build strong relationships with our institutional partners and bring teams together to execute. I am confident she is the right person to lead our European team through this next chapter,” Krauss said.
What Did Cardi Say About Her New Role?
Cardi pointed to the company’s development over the past decade as context for the appointment.
“Being part of Tyvak International since its early days and seeing what this team has built over the past 10 years has been an incredible experience. We have grown from a small team with an ambitious vision into an organization trusted to execute highly complex missions for some of Europe’s most important customers. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and excited to take on this responsibility as we continue growing our capabilities, strengthening our customer relationships and delivering the missions ahead,” she said.
