Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has appointed Patrick Wood as Group CEO, with effect from 1st April 2015.
Patrick Wood joins SSTL from Airbus Defence and Space, where he was most recently Head of Engineering and Operations and an Airbus Group Executive. He brings with him an outstanding track record within the space engineering sector, having previously steered the Skynet 5 programme to success including in-orbit delivery of three geostationary military telecommunications satellites and associated ground network and infrastructure. He was also CTO for Airbus Defence and Space satellite business, and later Engineering and Operations Director with pan-European responsibilities.
Sir Martin Sweeting, Executive Chairman of SSTL, in welcoming Patrick Wood to his new role at SSTL, said: “We are very fortunate indeed in finding someone with Patrick’s rare combination of detailed engineering experience, proven management capability and passion for satellites to join SSTL. He takes up this important role at a time when the small satellite industry is burgeoning and he will be taking charge of a full production line at SSTL, where we have 21 satellites and 22 Galileo payloads currently in manufacture.”
Patrick Wood commented on his new appointment: “Leading the SSTL Group is a fantastic opportunity and I am very much looking forward to the challenge. SSTL has a remarkable 30 year record of driving key innovations in space, and is perfectly placed to continue to drive change in the future, especially now that more and more of our day-to-day services rely on satellite systems.”
Previous to his roles at Airbus, Patrick Wood worked for Medelec, part of Vickers plc, and Thorn EMI Sensors Group.
Patrick Wood is a Fellow of both the Institute of Engineering and Technology and the Royal Aeronautical Society.
About SSTL
Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) is the world's leading small satellite company, delivering operational space missions for a range of applications including Earth observation, science and communications. The Company designs, manufactures and operates high performance satellites and ground systems for a fraction of the price normally associated with space missions, with over 500 staff working on turnkey satellite platforms, space-proven satellite subsystems and optical instruments.
Since 1981, SSTL has built and launched 43 satellites – as well as providing training and development programmes, consultancy services, and mission studies for ESA, NASA , international governments and commercial customers, with an innovative approach that is changing the economics of space.
Headquartered in Guildford, UK, SSTL is part of the Airbus Group.
www.sstl.co.uk
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