Executive Moves

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Northrop Grumman Names Barbara L. Barcon Vice President, Planning and Analysis

Los Angeles/March 31, 2003/Satnews Daily/ Northrop Grumman Corp. has announced the appointment of Barbara L. Barcon as vice president, planning and analysis. Barcon reports to Richard B. Waugh, Jr., corporate vice president and chief financial officer.

In this position, Barcon, 46, is responsible for providing strategic analysis and guidance, and serving as a focal point for the company's shareholder value measurements. She additionally directs the analysis of corporate and sector financial goals for incentive compensation purposes, and directs other activities related to financial modeling, valuation, metrics and other tools used in financial analysis and planning, such as mergers and acquisitions support.

She most recently served as vice president, finance and business, at Northrop Grumman's Space Technology sector, where she was responsible for all financial matters and business operations. Barcon managed operations, accounting, planning and budget, risk management, business management, real estate, facilities, strategic planning and investments.

Prior to that, she was the chief financial officer for AT&T Broadband's Southern California region. Previously, she spent more than 20 years at Hughes Electronics Company in key leadership positions, including vice president and CFO for Hughes Space and Communications.

She holds a master's degree in business administration from California State University, Long Beach, and a bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University, San Diego.

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Boeing Names Sir Michael Jenkins to Lead Business in the United Kingdom

Chicago/March 27, 2003/Satnews Daily/ The Boeing Co. has named Sir Michael Jenkins to the new position of president Boeing UK. He will coordinate all company activities enterprise-wide in Britain from the Boeing UK offices in central London.

Sir Michael, previously vice chairman of Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, will pursue new revenue-growth opportunities, lead the country strategy planning process and focus on strengthening local-market presence and profile.

For decades Boeing has invested in the talent, skills and technology that Britain's scientists, engineers and technicians offer -- a unique combination that attracts more than 1.6 billion pounds sterling every year from the world's leading aerospace company. This investment supports some 30,000 jobs in more than 200 companies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Boeing has forged strong and enduring partnerships with leading UK companies.  Boeing is also investing heavily in leading-edge research programs with the universities of Cambridge, Cranfield and Sheffield. In addition, there are 500 Boeing-badged employees at company sites and offices across the UK.

"The United Kingdom is one of the most important markets to The Boeing Company. We have a deep and long-standing partnership with the UK that stretches back more than 40 years in a story of mutual success and technical achievement," said Boeing Chairman and CEO Phil Condit. "The appointment of Sir Michael is a clear demonstration of Boeing's long-term commitment to building and expanding our business relationship in Britain."

Sales and marketing responsibilities will remain with the business units - Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Integrated Defense Systems, Connexion by Boeing, Boeing Capital Corporation and Air Traffic Management. Sir Michael will support the sales teams as they conduct their campaigns in the UK. 

"Sir Michael brings years of accomplishments to Boeing," Condit said. "His familiarity with British business and government as well as with the American environment will significantly enhance our relationships and presence in the UK."

Sir Michael, 67, has been vice-chairman of Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein since 1996 with particular focus on the investment bank's continental European activities.

Sir Michael said: "I am delighted to be joining The Boeing Company which is so active a player in the British economy.  I believe that there will be many opportunities to build on Boeing's already significant presence in the UK, which is a key focus for the development of the Company's international business."

Prior to joining the board of the Kleinwort Benson Group in 1993 as an executive director, he spent more than 30 years in the British Diplomatic Service, serving in several European capitals including Paris, Bonn and Moscow.

He worked in the European Commission in Brussels from 1973 to 1983, including terms as principal advisor to the EC President Roy Jenkins and as deputy secretary-general of the Commission. He was Minister and deputy head of mission at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., and from 1988 to 1992 he was British Ambassador to the Netherlands.

Sir Michael is an advisor to The Prince's Trust and chairman of the Action Centre for Europe. He is a council member of Britain in Europe and a trustee of the MCC.  From 1995 to 2001 he was a non-executive director of the Dutch insurance group, Aegon.

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New Skies Appoints 20-year Brazilian Telecom Veteran to Lead Mercosur Sales Efforts from São Paulo

March 27, 2003/Satnews Daily/ — New Skies Satellites N.V. has appointed Jurandir M. Pitsch as sales director for New Skies' commercial activities in Brazil and the Mercosur region of Latin America.

Pitsch is a Brazilian sales executive with more than 20 years of experience in the country's telecommunications industry. At New Skies, he is responsible for driving sales of New Skies' full range of advanced satellite services to broadcasters, cable programmers, telecommunications companies and Internet service providers in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, as well as Chile. Pitsch will also manage some of New Skies' largest Latin American accounts.

Dolores Martos, New Skies' vice president of sales for Latin America, said: "Brazil is the largest economy in South America with more than half of the continent's GDP and population. Together with the rest of the Mercosur region, where our new NSS-7 satellite provides high-power Ku-band coverage, it represents a key market for New Skies.

"Through Jurandir's appointment, we have gained an experienced sales executive with excellent contacts and customer relationships in the country and the region. In conjunction with our new and existing high-power capacity, comprehensive coverage of Brazil and Mercosur, and strong Latin American video neighborhood on NSS-806, Jurandir further strengthens our already solid presence and commitment to the region, bringing us even closer to our customers."

Pitsch said: "I am thrilled to join New Skies, which is recognized as an industry leader in the region and enjoys an unparalleled reputation in the video community throughout the Americas. Last year's launch of NSS-7, which offers excellent regional and trans-Atlantic coverage in both C- and Ku-band, opens exciting new opportunities for New Skies and I look forward to contributing to our continued success."

Having begun his career as an engineer, Pitsch has worked in telecommunications industry in Brazil for the past 20 years. In 1991, he joined Villares Control, a satellite earth station equipment manufacturer in Brazil, serving as head of the product development group. In 1994, this division was acquired by COMSAT International Ventures and Pitsch assumed the position of vice president of engineering and operations, before taking over the newly created position of vice president of marketing and business development.

New Skies is one of only four fixed satellite communications companies with truly global satellite coverage, offering video, voice, data and Internet communications services to a range of telecommunications carriers, broadcasters, large corporations and Internet service providers around the world. New Skies has six satellites in orbit, ground facilities around the world and one additional spacecraft under construction. 

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NASA Names New Chief Information Officer

NASA HQ/March 25, 2003/Satnews Daily/ — NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe has announced that Patricia L. Dunnington is the agency's new Chief Information Officer (CIO).

"Pat brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our management team, " Administrator O'Keefe said. "She has an intimate knowledge of the agency, and she will be a key leader, planner and manager as we continue to apply cutting edge information technology to NASA," he said.

The CIO reports directly to the NASA Administrator and is responsible for the development of an integrated focus on information resource management strategies, policies, and practices. These encompass strategic planning; standards in computing, networking, and security; establishment of system and information architectures; and incorporation of life- cycle management concepts into information technology acquisitions and management.

Dunnington succeeds Paul Strassman. Strassman is NASA's Special Assistant to the Administrator for Information Management, and he was also serving as acting CIO. A leading expert in the IT community, he came to NASA last spring to develop a strategy and architecture. Having succeeded in that task, he plans to retire to private life. "Paul has given us a much needed road map to address our information technology needs for the future. He's introduced contemporary business practices and a game plan that will help us fully implement the plan," Administrator O'Keefe said.

Dunnington was NASA's Deputy Chief Information Officer since August 2002. Prior to her headquarters assignment, she completed a Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program Developmental Work Assignment with Cisco Systems, Inc., San Jose, Calif. She also served as the Chief Information Officer of NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.

Dunnington joined NASA in 1982 as a Presidential Management Intern in the Office of Aero-Space Technology and served in a number of increasingly responsible positions, including CIO for the enterprise office. She also served as NASA's Acting Deputy CIO in 1996. She received her B.A. from The Catholic University of America, Washington and her M.G.A from the University of Maryland, College Park, Md. She has received numerous awards including NASA's Exceptional Service Medal and NASA's Langley Research Center Superior Accomplishment Award.

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Sirius Commences CFO Search

New York/March 24, 2003/Satnews Daily/ Satellite radio broadcaster Sirius has commenced a search for a Chief Financial Officer to succeed John J. Scelfo, who has been with the company since April 2001. Scelfo will leave Sirius on April 7, 2003, at which time the company's finance and accounting groups will report directly to Joe Clayton, President and CEO, until a new CFO is named.

"John helped us through significant expense reductions and capital raising efforts including our recent recapitalization.  He has indicated a desire to move on to different personal and professional ventures and we wish him well," said Clayton.

"The last two years at Sirius have been challenging and rewarding for me," said Scelfo. Now that the recapitalization is complete and the company's balance sheet is strong, it's a good time for me to pursue an opportunity that arose.  I am proud to have been part of Sirius, which is transforming in-car, and soon in-home, entertainment."

Spencer Stuart has been engaged by the company to search for a new CFO with extensive public company operating experience to support the company's focus on rapid growth, market penetration and cost controls.

Sirius brings satellite radio service bringing listeners 100 streams  of the best music and entertainment coast-to-coast.  Sirius offers 60 music streams with no commercials, along with 40 world-class sports, news and entertainment streams for a monthly subscription fee of $12.95. Stream Jockeys create and deliver uncompromised music in virtually every genre to our listeners 24 hours a day. Satellite radio products bringing Sirius to listeners in the car, truck, home, RV and boat are manufactured by Kenwood, Panasonic, Clarion, Audiovox and Jensen, and are available at major retailers including Circuit City, Best Buy, Car Toys, Good Guys, Tweeter, Ultimate Electronics, Sears and Crutchfield. 

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EMS Wireless Names Bobby Potts Director of Operations

Atlanta/March 20, 2003/Satnews Daily/ EMS Technologies, Inc. has named Bobby Potts as director of Operations for EMS Wireless, effective immediately.

Potts will lead the factory operations of the EMS Wireless organization, which designs and manufactures high-reliability wireless RF antenna and repeater equipment for the telecommunications market.

Potts joins EMS with more than 24 years of electronics manufacturing experience and leadership throughout North America. He most recently served as the director of Quality for Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., where he also held director positions in Worldwide Quality Assurance and Manufacturing. Prior to these positions, Potts led quality assurance and technical operations at Motorola Inc., where he was instrumental in developing manufacturing strategies in support of Six Sigma quality improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives.

"Bobby will help us enhance our manufacturing operations to further improve our responsiveness and customer service," said Gerald Hickman, senior vice president and general manager, EMS Wireless. "Bobby has a proven track record of success that complements our leadership position delivering RF solutions to the telecommunications industry."

"I couldn't be more pleased to be a part of EMS Wireless," said Potts. "The vision, leadership and core values that I see embraced by the senior management team made me want to be part of EMS. I look forward to working alongside the talented EMS Wireless team to help take the division to the next level."

EMS Technologies is an innovator in the design and manufacture of wireless, satellite and defense solutions, and focuses its unique range of advanced technologies on the needs of broadband and mobile information users. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, employs approximately 1,700 people worldwide, and has manufacturing facilities in Atlanta, Montreal, Ottawa and Brazil.

EMS Wireless, The Performance Leader in RF Solutions, designs, manufactures and markets a comprehensive selection of RF solutions for wireless carriers.  They include products for mobile and fixed wireless applications as well as repeater and amplifier products. 

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Stanton D. Sloane Named President of Lockheed Martin's Management & Data Systems

King of Prussia, Pa./March 18, 2003/Satnews Daily/ Albert E. Smith, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., has named Stanton D. Sloane president of Management & Data Systems (M&DS). Sloane will replace Marcus C. Hansen, who is retiring next month after a stellar 34-year career.

As M&DS president, Sloane will be responsible for a $2.3 billion business with over 8,200 employees in five geographic regions.  He will direct a broad array of information technology business areas with capabilities in system engineering and integration, software development, architectural definition, and large-scale information systems design.

"Stan has held a number of key program management, engineering and business development positions at GE Aerospace and Lockheed Martin. His multi-national experience and proven track record for business growth, strategic thinking and financial performance clearly demonstrate his ability to lead.  He is ideally suited to assume the top position at M&DS," Smith said.

Sloane returned to M&DS as its executive vice president in February 2000. Previously he had been senior vice president, Network Systems Development, Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications (LMGT) since 1998. Sloane had served as vice president, Communications Systems for M&DS, before joining LMGT.

An 18-year Lockheed Martin/GE Aerospace veteran, Sloane's previous assignments included vice president, Radar/Sensor Systems, Ocean Radar & Sensor Systems business in Syracuse, New York.  He also held several leadership positions in the Business Development arena including overseas assignment in Greece, England, and Australia where he served as the first CEO of a Lockheed Martin in-country joint venture.

Sloane is a 10-year veteran of the U. S. Navy and Navy Reserve, where he served as an aeronautical maintenance officer.  He holds BS and MA degrees from Barry University and Pepperdine University, respectively.  He is currently participating in the Executive Doctor of Management Program at Case Western Reserve University and will graduate in May 2003.

Management & Data Systems, headquartered in King of Prussia, Pa., has been a leader in systems integration, systems engineering, software development and program management in support of vital national systems for more than 30 years.  M&DS is a unit of Lockheed Martin Corp. with approximately 8,200 employees at facilities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

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Northern Sky Research Names Jose del Rosario Senior Analyst and Regional Director, Asia Pacific

Orlando, FL/March 17, 2003/Satnews Daily/ Global market research and consulting company Northern Sky Research has appointed Jose del Rosario to the position of Senior Analyst and Regional Director: Asia Pacific. Based in Manila, Philippines, Del Rosario will direct all multi-client market research reports and consulting projects based in the Asia-Pacific region. Del Rosario will also serve as an important component of numerous global and application-specific analyses conducted by Northern Sky Research. 

Del Rosario brings extensive consulting and research experience to Northern Sky Research, including several quantitative modeling, data verification, and market forecasting projects conducted for the commercial, military and science satellite sectors.

"Jose is an exceptional analyst and will be invaluable to our efforts to broaden our portfolio of research and consulting services in Asia,” said Christopher Baugh, president of Northern Sky Research. “Northern Sky Research has built a global customer base of satellite operators, service providers, solutions vendors and integrators that require thorough data analysis and forecasting in multiple market segments. Based on his past experience in the region, Jose is an ideal candidate to elevate Northern Sky Research’s presence and coverage of Asia"

Del Rosario joins Northern Sky Research from Frost & Sullivan where he served as Senior Analyst & Program Leader of the Satellite Communications Group, as Program Leader of the Mobile Communications Group, and most recently as Country Manager for the Philippines. Prior to that, he was the Public Affairs Officer of the European Commission’s Delegation in the Philippines, co-managing the Commission’s programs on economic cooperation and development assistance. He also performed economic and political risk assessment of the Philippines and ASEAN, for use by Delegation officials in the Philippines and in the Commission’s headquarters in Brussels.

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Lockheed Martin Nominates Joseph W. Ralston to Board of Directors

March 17, 2003/Satnews Daily/ — The Lockheed Martin board of directors has nominated Joseph W. Ralston to its board. Mr. Ralston, a distinguished Air Force veteran, is Vice Chairman of the Cohen Group, a consulting business. The nomination will be submitted to the stockholders for approval on April 24. Lockheed Martin directors serve one- year terms.

Ralston, 59, is the former Commander, U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO. He recently retired after 37 years of military service. As NATO forces commander, Mr. Ralston was the senior U.S. military officer of a unified combatant command that included 93 nations throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Prior to assuming this position, Ralston served as the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is a command pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours, including 147 combat missions over Laos and North Vietnam.

Ralston holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry from Miami University and a Master of Arts degree in personnel management from Central Michigan University.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin employs about 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2002 sales of $26.6 billion.

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NTL Inc. Appoints James F. Mooney as Non-Executive Chairman

London/March 12, 2003/Satnews Daily/ NTL Incorporated has appointed James F. Mooney as Non-Executive Chairman.

Mooney's primary responsibilities will include the establishment and implementation of strategic policies, extensive operational oversight, active interaction with senior executive management as well as making certain that NTL conforms to the highest standards of corporate governance. Working with Barclay Knapp, Chief Executive Officer of NTL, Mooney will utilize his valuable operational and industry expertise to augment and oversee the continued execution of strategic priorities that have been put in place since the company's exit from bankruptcy. These efforts will ensure that NTL is successful with its strategy of delivering profitable growth while returning to service excellence.

Mooney was most recently the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Nextel Communications Inc. He was responsible for all aspects of day-to-day operations, including sales, network operations, product development, marketing and advertising, information technology and customer support operations. While at Nextel, Mooney implemented key strategic policies and undertook comprehensive operational projects resulting in substantial improvement in company profitability and return on investment. During this timeframe, Nextel's profit margins improved from 24% to 40%, wireless market share grew from 7.0% to more than 20%, and Nextel's industry best customer churn metric improved a further 25%. These significant accomplishments were attained while operating within the confines of a highly leveraged balance sheet and an intensely competitive operating environment.

Prior to joining Nextel, Mooney was the CEO/COO of Tradeout Inc., an asset management firm owned jointly by General Electric Capital, Ebay Inc and Benchmark Capital. Before his position with Tradeout, Mooney was the Chief Operating Officer at Baan Company, a business management software provider that had dual headquarters in Amsterdam and Virginia. From 1980-1999, Mr. Mooney held a number of positions with IBM Corporation, including his last position as Chief Financial Officer of the Americas where he was responsible for all operations and financial management of a $45 billion entity.

William R. Huff, current Chairman of NTL said, "While numerous other highly-qualified candidates were considered for this position, Jim was clearly our first choice. He is exactly the person we need as Chairman of NTL - he possesses all of the requisite skill sets and is clearly a battle-tested executive. His operational expertise, financial acumen and keen understanding of return on invested capital will lend itself perfectly to the unique hands-on requirement of the NTL Chairman position."

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Gilat Announces Impending Changes in Top Executive Positions

Petah Tikva, Israel/March 10, 2003/Satnews Daily/ Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. has announced the resignations of the company's Chairman and CEO Yoel Gat and President Amiram Levinberg, both co-founders of the company effective upon the meeting of the new Board of Directors expected in April.

The voluntary resignations open the way for the appointment of a new Chairman and President and CEO at the upcoming meeting of the new Board of Directors in April where it is expected that Shlomo Rodav will become Chairman of the company and Oren Most will be appointed the new President and CEO.

Both Rodav and Most join Gilat with a wealth of financial, business and managerial experience and are well positioned to carry the company forward into a new era of growth. Shlomo Rodav, who is expected to assume the position of Chairman of Gilat, is the successful owner and manager of numerous companies in the high-tech, infrastructure, environment, food and holdings areas.

Oren Most, who is expected to be appointed Gilat's President and CEO, joins the company from Cellcom (Israel), the county's largest and most successful cellular phone company, where he was one of the company's founders and served as Deputy CEO and Head of the Customers Division.

Prior to his work at Cellcom, Most led two successful corporate turnarounds, as CEO of Keter, one of Israel's largest book publishing and printing companies, and as Managing Director of Gibor-Sabrina's Pantyhose Division. Oren Most's experience also includes management positions in banking and venture capital in the United States. Most, 52, received his MBA degree from New York University in 1981.

The impending change in the company's top executive positions coincides with the successful conclusion of Gilat's restructuring plan that was authorized by the courts last Thursday. Both Gat and Levinberg, who are committed to helping the new Chairman and President and CEO make the transition with the existing Gilat professional management team, will continue in their present positions until the new Board is elected in April.

Yoel Gat, outgoing Chairman and CEO said, "After bringing the company's restructuring plan to a successful conclusion, following which Gilat's viability is no longer in question, I felt that stepping aside was the right thing to do. After sixteen great years that we have dedicated to Gilat, it was time to give a new management team the opportunity to take the Company forward to the next level."

Amiram Levinberg, outgoing President said, "As the new shareholders are expected to prefer the nominated CEO to come from outside the Company, I think it is the right time to take a new course in my personal career. We leave behind a very strong and professionally experienced management team at Gilat that has been serving the Company for many years, which will ensure, with our help, a smooth transition for the incoming Chairman and President and CEO. Both Yoel and myself agreed to remain as Directors on the new Board and will continue to provide any assistance we can for the success of Gilat, which will always remain dear to our hearts."

"In my view," said Oren Most, Gilat's expected incoming President and CEO, "Gilat represents some of Israel's finest technological development capabilities and international marketing achievements. I am thankful to the Company's new shareholders for the opportunity to lead Gilat's excellent and professional team in tackling the turnaround challenge."

Gilat expects to be in a position to hold a shareholder's meeting in April at which time the new Board will be elected. The Board will then meet and is expected to appoint the new Chairman and President and CEO. Proxy statements for the meeting will be sent out in mid-March.

The following individuals are presently expected to be proposed at the Company's upcoming Shareholders' meeting to serve on the new Board: Gideon Chitayat, Yoel Gat, Linda Harnevo, Amiram Levinberg, David Milgrom, Shlomo Rodav, Meir Shamir, Doron Steiger, Shally Tshuva.

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Thomas Sheddan and Norberto Alvarez Vitale Win WTA Teleport Executives of the Year Award

March 5, 2003/Satnews Daily/ Norberto Alvarez Vitale, President of Teleport Internacional Buenos Aires, and Thomas Sheddan, President of Atlanta International Teleport, were named last week recipients of Teleport Executives of the Year award given by the World Teleport Association.  

For only the second time in its history, WTA has awarded its coveted Teleport Executive of the Year Award to more than one industry executive. According to WTA, both of these veteran industry executives exemplify the independent operators who have continued to grow their businesses and manage them for success in good times and bad.  

Other awardees of this year's Teleport Awards for Excellence are: 

Kingston inmedia as "Teleport Operator of the Year"; Hawaii Pacific Teleport as "Teleport Developer of the Year" and W.B. Walton Enterprises as "Teleport Technology of the Year" for its Hot-Air De-Icing Systems.

According to Robert A. Bell, Executive Director of WTA, the 2003 recipients represent both the entrepreneurial spirit of the industry and the companies and people within it that have succeeded by sticking to the fundamentals of running a business rather than chasing dreams of instant riches.

WTA presented the awards at an invitational ceremony and luncheon last week.

With a strategy that focuses on a careful selection of customers, Thomas Sheddan has not only managed a profitable independent teleport - he has gone where few teleport have been successful: the emerging markets of the Western Hemisphere, stated the citation on Sheddan. WTA said with a small but full-service operation, Sheddan has helped facilitate entrepreneurial carriers and partners within the borders of developing markets, establishing links and creating needs that drove further expansion of bandwidth demand. His strategy has paid off, as the teleport today delivers Internet and other network services to thousands of users in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the Caribbean, said WTA.  

Vitale's innovative strategy and ability to grow a regional customer base in a harsh economic climate helped him earn the co-recipient honors with Sheddan.

In 1992, Norberto Alvarez Vitale founded Teleport Internacional Buenos Aires (TIBA). With a background in satellite communications equipment sales and integration, Vitale came up with a dramatic offer for the broadcasters of Latin America. TIBA would buy and install the equipment necessary to convert their contribution and distribution operations from analog to digital at no cost - if the broadcaster would agree to let TIBA control the additional bandwidth created by digitization. Enough broadcasters agreed to launch TIBA into the teleport business and give it one of Latin America's larger inventories of satellite capacity. Within 5 years, the company created a video community of over 20 local and regional channels. 

Taking advantage of deregulation in Argentina, where the company is headquartered, TIBA successfully entered the growing data and Internet market in 1999. Under the direction of Mr. Vitale, the company has expanded dramatically and today manages a portfolio of transmission services through teleports in Buenos Aires (Argentina), Montevideo (Uruguay) and Sao Paulo (Brazil), as well as satellite communication data services in 12 other nations, stretching from Paraguay to Canada. 

WTA is a nonprofit, nonpolitical trade asso­ciation of teleports and their development partners in over 20 nations around the world. WTA's mission is to promote the business development goals of its members in the broadband com­munications business worldwide. WTA selects its winners from both member and nonmember teleports. The final selection is made by a WTA executive committee, consisting of senior management, past winners and select representatives from the association's three regions: the Americas, Asia and Europe.

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NTL Incorporated Appoints Scott Schubert as Chief Financial Officer

London/March 5, 2003/Satnews Daily/ NTL Incorp. has appointed Scott Schubert as Chief Financial Officer effective April 1, 2003.

Scott is currently the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of WilTel Communications Group.

Schubert will be responsible for all of NTL's financial activities, including Cash Management, Credit Management, Capital Budgeting, Financial Planning and Analysis, Tax, Financial Reporting, SEC and Regulatory Filings, Accounting Systems and Controls, Internal Audit, and Investor Relations. He will report to Barclay Knapp, Chief Executive Officer and be based in the company's operational headquarters in Hook, Hampshire. He will join the Executive Management Group.

Schubert started his career at Amoco Corporation in 1976, upon graduation from Purdue University where he completed his MBA degree in Finance in 1976 and a Bachelor of Science in Management in 1975. With Amoco, he held various assignments, including working in Managerial and Financial Accounting, Financial Evaluation and Analysis, Planning and Economic Analysis, Strategic Planning and Treasury. In 1991 Schubert became International Controller of Exploration & Production and in 1995 he was appointed Vice President, Worldwide Financial Services, responsible for all of the company's financial and accounting operations. Following the merger of BP and Amoco in 1998, Mr Schubert led the successful integration of the companies' financial operations as head of BP Amoco's Global Financial Services.

In 1999, Schubert joined Williams Communications Group Inc as Chief Financial Officer. Williams delivers voice, data, video and IP services for worldwide telecom carriers, internet service providers and global media and entertainment companies. He led the company's IPO and successfully introduced a performance-driven culture. Most recently, in 2002, he successfully led and completed the financial restructuring of the company's balance sheet.

Barclay Knapp, Chief Executive Officer of NTL said he is delighted that Scott is joining the company as CFO. "He has over 25 years of broad financial leadership experience, including the past 4 years in the telecommunications and media industry, and is therefore well equipped to help exploit the opportunities at NTL as we focus on delivering profitable growth and returning to service excellence," he said.

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Yannick d'Escatha Appointed New CNES President

March 3, 2003/Satnews Daily/ — The French council of ministers, on the recommendation of the Minister of Defence and the Minister for Research and New Technologies, has appointed Yannick d’Escatha as President of the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES).

Born 1948, Yannick d’Escatha graduated from the Ecole Polytechnique engineering school, where he finished second in his year. He then pursued his engineering studies at the Ecole des Mines, qualifying as a chief mining and geology engineer and obtaining a post-masters degree in theoretical mechanics before beginning his career in teaching and research at the Ecole Polytechnique, the Ecole des Mines de Paris and the ENSTA advanced technologies school.

In 1978, Yannick d’Escatha was appointed to head the nuclear installations safety inspectorate at the Ministry of Industry. In 1982, he joined the French atomic energy agency CEA as Deputy Managing Director of its subsidiary Technicatome. He was subsequently appointed to head CEA’s Advanced Technologies Directorate in 1990, Deputy Administrator in 1992, Administrator in 1995 and President of CEA-Industrie in 1999.

In January 2000, he was appointed to head the Industry division of French electric utility EDF, where he was in charge of industrial strategy. He became Co-Chief Executive Officer of EDF in January 2002.

He joins CNES effective 19 February 2003.

In a statement to all employees, the newly appointed President said: "I know that CNES is going through a serious crisis and that the space sector is struggling. But the reason I was prepared to leave EDF for CNES is because I believe in space, in the many benefits it is already bringing in telecommunications, television, GPS, Earth observation, oceanography, weather forecasting, the environment, science, security and defence, industry and services, and in the huge potential waiting to be tapped; because I believe that the conquest of space is an important challenge for the future of all humankind; and because I believe in CNES and in its future."  

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ViaSat Announces New Board Member

Carlsbad, Calif./March 3, 2003/Satnews Daily/ ViaSat, Inc. has announced that Michael B. Targoff, has been elected to the company's board of directors, filling the vacancy left by the  retirement of former board member, James F. Bunker.  Targoff's appointment preserves an independent majority on ViaSat's 6-member board.

Targoff, a former president and chief operating officer of Loral Space & Communications and partner of top New York law firm, Wilkie Farr & Gallagher, brings to ViaSat significant expertise in the defense, wireless and satellite markets.  Mr. Targoff holds a B.A. from Brown University and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, where he was a Hamilton Fisk Scholar and Editor of the Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems. 

"Michael's defense background, in addition to his tremendous operational expertise, makes for a great addition to our board at a time when this market segment is developing into a key part of ViaSat's future," said Mark Dankberg, ViaSat chairman, president and CEO.  "The other board members and I are looking forward to Michael's independent insights and counsel during this exciting time for our company."

Targoff is also a current director of Leap Wireless, Globalstar Telecommunications Limited, and Infocrossing, Inc. and is chairman of the boards of directors of two small private telecom companies.

ViaSat produces advanced digital satellite telecommunications and wireless signal processing systems for commercial and government markets.  The company produces a full line of VSAT systems for network access and infrastructure, and is building market share in Ka-band satellite systems, from user terminals to large gateways. Other products include satellite antenna systems, tactical communication radios, network security products, and RF communication simulators.  Along with its headquarters in Carlsbad, CA, ViaSat has divisions located in Clarksburg, MD and Norcross, GA.  Additional field offices are located in Boston, MA, Australia, China, Italy, and India.

In addition the company's wholly owned subsidiary, U.S. Monolithics, LLC, designs and produces monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) and modules for use in broadband communications. USM is based in Chandler, Arizona.

Additional information on ViaSat is available at www.viasat.com

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