Scott Smith and Thomas Fitzpatrick have been promoted respectively to chief operating officer and chief administrative officer at Iridium Communications (NASDAQ: IRDM).
Fitzpatrick will continue to serve as the company’s chief financial officer and both executives have been appointed to the board of directors, Iridium announced Friday.
The board now comprises of three Iridium executives and eight independent directors.
Matt Desch, Iridium CEO, said the company made the appointments as it prepares to deploy the second-generation Iridium NEXT satellite constellation in 2015.
Smith, a three-decade commercial satellite industry veteran will oversee the company’s ground, space and satellite operations in his new role.
He joined the company in April 2010 to lead Iridium NEXT initiative and served as executive vice president of the company’s technology development and satellite operations prior to his promotion to COO.
Fitzpatrick will oversee the company’s information technology and billing functions in his role as CAO.
