Iridium Satellite names Matthew J. Desch, previously CEO at Telcordia, as new CEO

September 22, 2006

2 Min Read

BETHESDA, Md. -- Iridium Satellite LLC, the global supplier of mobile satellite communications services, today announced that it has named Matthew J. Desch, 48, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company.

"We are delighted to have Matt join as our new CEO," said Dan Colussy, Chairman of Iridium Holdings LLC. "He brings more than 26 years of directly relevant wireless and telecom experience to our company, providing the ideal background to oversee our continued double-digit growth, multiple new product and service introductions, and the development of our next-generation constellation." Colussy said that Desch will replace him as CEO of Iridium Satellite. Additionally, Desch will become CEO of Iridium Holdings, the parent of Iridium Satellite, while Colussy will remain Chairman of Iridium Holdings.

"I am excited to lead the Iridium team as it unleashes the full potential of this unique global network," Desch said. "Iridium's evolution from a handheld voice service to a full suite of voice and data solutions has impressed upon me the potential to become the world's most robust, pervasive and fully-integrated global communications network. I look forward to leading Iridium to that level."

Desch was most recently CEO of New Jersey-based Telcordia Technologies, Inc., a supplier of software and services to the telecommunications industry. Desch was instrumental in moving Telcordia into new wireless and international markets, and spinning off the company to private equity from SAIC, Inc. Prior to Telcordia, Desch spent 13 years at Nortel Networks, leaving in 2000 as President, Global Service Providers and responsible for Nortel's business in Europe and Asia. Active in the wireless industry with Nortel since 1990, he was President of Nortel's fast growing Wireless Networks division from 1995 to 1999, leading its growth from $2 billion to more than $4.5 billion in annual revenue.

Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM)

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