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Patrick K. Brant Named CEO and President of SkyPort Global Communications to Lead Company’s Growth
April 30, 2007 – HOUSTON, TX – Patrick K. Brant, a leader in the global satellite industry for more than 20 years, has joined SkyPort Global Communications Inc., as chief executive officer and president to lead the satellite services firm through a period of rapid growth.
Brant most recently served as CEO and president of Loral Skynet, the satellite operations unit of Loral Space & Communications Inc. He has been an advisor to SkyPort’s board of directors for the past three months. Brant assumes the new executive role following the retirement of Roger Klotz, a long-time veteran of the telecommunications industry and the company’s president for the past four years.
“Though we are sorry to lose Roger, Patrick Brant will be a tremendous asset to SkyPort owing to his experience in senior management, mergers, acquisitions, finance, sales and operations,” said Robert Kubbernus, chairman of SkyPort’s board of directors. “Pat’s industry contacts and his experience building and running large organizations are vital to SkyPort’s ability to realize its strategic vision of becoming the leading international provider of satellite communication solutions.”
Brant joined Loral in 1999 at its CyberStar data services unit, and in 2003, as chief operating officer, was instrumental in integrating CyberStar into Loral Skynet. Before joining CyberStar, Brant was president of Controlsat and also senior director of that company’s Orbital Communications division, the first provider of global data services using low-earth orbit satellites. Brant has also held senior positions with Eyretel PLC and American Mobile Satellite Corp.
Mr. Brant played a key role at Loral Skynet by helping the parent company successfully restructure in November 2005. Under his leadership, Loral Skynet saw an eight-fold increase in earnings and growth in its valuation to over $800 million. Most recently, Brant took part in negotiating the $3.2 billion purchase of Telesat Canada by Loral Space & Communications. As a result of that transaction, Loral Skynet is merging its operations with Telesat and moving to Ottawa, a change that prompted Brant to leave the company in December.
“The global satellite industry is undergoing a fundamental shift,” Brant said. “Large service providers are re-focusing on their core business and divesting non-core operations. At the same time, small and mid-sized firms are being forced by competition into decisions to sell or merge. This dynamic creates opportunities for well-managed firms such as SkyPort, to grow through acquisitions and become an integrator of a wide range of satellite-related services that build on our core business.”
SkyPort recently launched a best-in-class Channel Partners Program to offer its services to a wider range of customers. “Our Partners Program has been developed as a result of extensive research, and provides our Partners with industry-leading products, services, tools, training, and support,” said Stella Powell, executive vice president, sales and marketing. “We are very pleased with the response to the program from leading industry innovators such as Avaya, Cisco, IBM, ARINC and SOURCE to name a few.”
“All the stars are aligning in favor of SkyPort’s business plan. Broadband satellite markets for first and last mile connectivity are rapidly opening up; military budgets are finally coming to fruition, and industry consolidation is being fuelled by low cost capital,” said Brant. “SkyPort plans to fully capitalize on these market conditions as a means of increasing our profitability and shareholder value.”
For more information contact:
SkyPort Global Communications, Inc.
1.800.822.2961
pr@skyportglobal.com