Communications & Power Industries (CPI) has announced that Andrew C. Ivers will join the company as its newchief operating officer, effective November 4, 2019.

Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, the majority shareholder of ILS International Launch Services, (ILS) announced the departure of Kirk Pysher as ILS President. John Palme, ILS Chief Operations Officer, will serve as interim President until a successor is appointed.

Mr. Alexey Varochko, KhSC Director General, expressed his thanks to Mr. Pysher for his work on offering Proton M launch services on the global market.

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL) announced today that Rich Luhrs has been promoted to President of its Orlando, Florida-based subsidiary, Comtech Systems, Inc. (“Comtech Systems”) and that Dick Burt will be retiring after 40 years with the Company. Comtech Systems provides high-performance transmission products including over-the-horizon microwave and troposcatter systems and is part of Comtech’s Government Solutions segment.

At the IBC 2019 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Satellite Markets and Research Editor-in-Chief Virgil Labrador interviewed key executives including Alexander Mueller-Gastell, CEO-ND SatCom; Jacob Keret, Senior VP-Sales-Amos Spacecom; Vagan Shakhgildian, CEO-UHP Networks; Markus Selin, Head of Business Development-Satcube; Oliver Vogel, Director of Sales-RF Design; and Jorge Rodriguez, Director of Marketing-Hispasat. To view the videos, click on the aformentioned executive's name. 

OrbitsEdge™ Inc. announced the appointment of Barbara Stinnett as chief executive officer. Stinnett brings 30 years of executive technology leadership and entrepreneurial experience to raise capital, establish partnerships, and provide leadership to all aspects of the company.  

The Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC) has appointed Christopher Slaughter in an interim position to consult with both the APSCC Board and Secretariat to accelerate the organization’s developmental and strategic goals.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has announced organization changes to its operating sectors to better align the company’s broad portfolio to serve its customers’ needs. There will be four operating sectors: Aeronautics Systems, Defense Systems, Mission Systems and Space Systems. The changes are effective Jan. 1, 2020.

The teleport business is changing rapidly. To a get an insight on the dynamics of this vital segment of the satellite industry, Satellite Executive Briefing spoke with Vladimir Rangelov, Senior Manager, Broadcast Services at VIVACOM--Bulgaria’s largest media company that operates a teleport, among its other businesses. Excerpts of the interview:

A tour of contract manufacturer Automated Technology Philippines, Inc.'s (ATEC) facilities in a Special Export Processing Zone near Manila, Philippines.

Flat Panel Satellite Antennas (FPSAs) are one of the most anticipated technical innovations in the satellite industry for its potential to provide connectivity in mobility applications for aeronautical, terrestrial and maritime applications. However, we have yet to see FPSA take off.