ManSat CEO Chris Stott has been appointed Chairman of the Society of Satellite Professionals International, the satellite industry’s largest global professional association.

His one-year term as Chairman comes as Chris finishes this year after having served one year as SSPI President. He has been a member of the SSPI for more than 20 years, and is Chairman of the organisation’s Isle of Man chapter, and has served as a Board member with the global SSPI for the last five years.

Chris was one of the forerunners of the Isle of Man’s space industry, setting up ManSat in 1998. Since 2000, the company has carried out satellite filings for the Island under a contract with the Isle of Man Government's Communications Commission.

‘This is superb recognition for the Isle of Man, and our burgeoning satellite industry,’ said Chris. ‘The appointment is a real honour from a personal point of view, but by far the most important aspect is that it will further help to raise the Island’s profile within the global space industry.’

The SSPI is a non-profit organisation which looks to develop the careers of those working within the satellite industry, creating opportunities to network and work together, while promoting greater awareness of the satellite industry to businesses, regulatory bodies and consumers via regular publicity campaigns. It also works to attract the next generation of talent to the industry through student competitions, scholarships and grants in partnership with leading student associations.
 
The SSPI Board represents a cross-section of the commercial satellite business around the globe.

Outgoing SSPI Chairman Dianne VanBeber, Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications for Intelsat, said: ‘The mission of SSPI is growing in importance, given the current renaissance of space-based communications and the acknowledgement that satellite can resolve some of the world’s greatest telecommunications challenges.  SSPI is fortunate to have Chris Stott, a creative and dynamic leader, at the helm of the Society.’

‘Chris Stott’s background stretches from involvement in the International Space University and ITU to Silicon Valley,’ said SSPI executive director Robert Bell.  ‘As our industry undergoes an accelerating rate of change, I expect him to keep us focused on the most exciting opportunity ahead.’

Chris’s appointment comes as ManSat continues to support a new global awareness campaign from the SSPI – ‘How Satellites Make a Better World’ – which promotes the impact of satellites on today’s society. The campaign is collecting both heart-warming and hard-headed business stories about the industry’s contribution to the economy, business, international security and human welfare. More information is available at www.bettersatelliteworld.com.

For more information about SSPI, visit www.sspi.org.