Global satellite operator SES S.A. has announced the appointment of Andrew Browne as Chief Financial Officer and member of its Executive Committee, replacing current CFO Mark Rigolle who is taking up the position of Chief Executive Officer of satellite infrastructure start-up O3b Networks.

Browne, a well-known satellite industry veteran, was CFO of Intelsat from 1995 to 1998, where he was instrumental in building up the foundation for a new company which later became New Skies Satellites.

He then served as CFO of that company from 1998 to 2008, including during the incorporation into the SES group when it was purchased in 2006 from private equity owners. Since then, Browne has served in advisory as well as non-executive directorship roles in a variety of companies. He will take up his position at SES at the beginning of April.

"As Mark Rigolle moves on to his next career challenge, we are fortunate to be welcoming Andrew Browne back to SES as our group CFO," said Romain Bausch, President and CEO of SES. "Andrew's extensive industry experience, and existing knowledge of our company, makes him a valuable addition to SES' leadership team. I look forward to working with him and with our entire finance team to further grow our business."

"I am delighted to be returning to the SES group as CFO, and am very much looking forward to contributing to the ongoing success and further development of SES," said Browne.

"Mark Rigolle has played an important role in SES' development over the last five years," added Bausch.

"Although we are sorry he is leaving us, we are delighted that he has chosen to continue his career development at O3b, a company in which SES holds a strategic interest. This move underscores the importance SES attaches to the success of O3b, and Mark will undoubtedly create shareholder value there as he has done at SES. We wish him well."