LONDON -- Inmarsat plc (LSE:Isat.l - News), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, reports that with effect from 1 January 2012 Andrew Sukawaty will become Executive Chairman and Rupert Pearce will become Chief Executive Officer. Rupert will join the Inmarsat plc board as an executive director effective 6 July 2011. With this appointment Inmarsat has implemented a previously announced plan to separate the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Rupert Pearce, who currently serves as Senior Vice President of Inmarsat Enterprises and Inmarsat's Group General Counsel, has been with the company for six years. In this time he has been instrumental in shaping the strategic direction of the company, including the acquisition of Inmarsat's largest distributor, Stratos; formulating and executing the business plan for the Global Xpress[TM] Inmarsat-5 satellite constellation; as well as the creation and negotiation of the Co-operation Agreement with LightSquared on use of Inmarsat's spectrum over North America.

The Board of Inmarsat is pleased to confirm that Andrew Sukawaty has agreed to continue to be involved in the business as Executive Chairman for not less than two years. He will continue in the joint role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer until 31 December 2011. Commenting on Mr Pearce's appointment, Mr Sukawaty said, "Rupert has led many of our major programmes since he joined Inmarsat six years ago. He is extremely well prepared to head our experienced management team and drive the company forward into its next stage of growth."

Inmarsat plc (London: ISAT)