SSPI UK, the UK Chapter of the Space and Satellite Professionals International organisation is pleased to announce Ian Jones, CEO of Goonhilly, as the U.K. Space & Satellite Personality of 2019. Ian has been instrumental in the revival of Goonhilly Earth station as a multi-faceted space hub. He joins past winners of the award: Catherine Mealing-Jones, Magali Vaissiere and Greg Wyler.

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.  

Andrew Stanniland has been announced as chief executive officer of Thales Alenia Space in the UK commencing from Monday, September 23, 2019.

NewSpace earth observation company, Satellite Vu, has appointed a Vice President, Business Development to drive its strategy forward over the coming months and years. Energy industry veteran and International Space University (ISU) graduate, Simon Tucker will take on the role, which will see him returning to the space sector after 20 years.

Clarence Duflocq, 39, has been appointed director strategy, mergers & acquisitions, innovation and new business initiatives at Thales Alenia Space, starting in September 2019.

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.