SES’ government arm has named telecommunications industry executive Ben Pigsley as senior vice president for defense networks and aerospace and defense sector veteran Jim Hooper as SVP for space initiatives.
The appointment of Pigsley and Hooper to the leadership team of SES Government Solutions comes after the parent company closed its $450 million acquisition of a Leonardo DRS unit that provides satellite communications and security services for the federal government, SES said Tuesday.
David Fields, president and CEO of SES Government Solutions, said the experience and values that Pigsley and Hooper bring to the leadership team will help the company carry out its commitment to provide satellite network platforms to Department of Defense and U.S. government customers.
“The organizational announcement of our Defense Networks and Space Initiatives focused leadership is an important building block in our journey and positions us to define a new era of SATCOM excellence as we expand our end-to-end services and capabilities to not only meet the needs and requirements of our customers of today and tomorrow but to exceed their expectations,” added Fields.
Pigsley will oversee business development efforts by expanding SES GS’ networking and satcom capabilities in support of combatant commands, military services and other defense agencies.
He brings to the role over three decades of experience in the telecom industry. He previously served as VP for growth and strategy at DRS Global Enterprise Solutions and spent 21 years in the U.S. Army.
Hooper will lead the development and deployment of platforms for new satellite initiatives and delivery of satcom services to government and industry clients.
He has led business development and sales programs for U.S. and allied governments since joining SES GS in 2010. He also led space, intelligence and defense programs during his career at Science Applications International Corp. (NYSE: SAIC) and Teledyne Brown Engineering.
