SES ASTRA, an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), and the Arab satellite operator Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), have appointed Mohamed Youssif as the CEO of YahLive.

YahLive is a partnership between the satellite operators SES ASTRA and Yahsat to offer satellite capacity for DTH services to more than two dozen countries in the Middle East, North Africa and South West Asia, a large economic region with substantial growth potential. Under the YahLive brand, the newly founded company of SES ASTRA and Yahsat will own and commercialize 23 BSS-transponders on the Yahsat 1A spacecraft to be positioned at the 52.5 degrees East and operating in the Ku-band frequency. The satellite, procured from a consortium of EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space, is currently under construction and is scheduled to be launched by the fourth quarter of 2010.

Mohamed Youssif has more than 20 years of professional experience in the satellite and telecommunications industry, particularly in the Middle East. Before taking responsibility for YahLive, he headed the commercial operations of Arab Satellite Communications Organisation (Arabsat) as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Prior to his assignment with Arabsat, he served as Managing Director of MESAT Consultancy and as General Manager for the Middle East at ICO Global Communications. Between 1987 and 1996, Mohamed Youssif worked for Hughes Network Systems where his latest role was Middle-East and North Africa Marketing Manager. Mohamed Youssif holds a university degree in telecommunications and electronic engineering.