Inmarsat, the world’s leading provider of global mobile satellite communications, announced the appointment of Kai Tang as Senior Vice President of Business and General Aviation (BGA). Kai joins the Inmarsat Aviation business from Inmarsat Government, where he held the role of Chief Commercial Officer.

Kai Tang Senior Vice President of Business and General Aviation (BGA)

Kai is an experienced satellite communications professional with industry expertise ranging across government, maritime and aviation. During his seven years at Inmarsat, he has held the role of Vice President of Commercial Strategy and Operations for Inmarsat’s U.S. Government Business Unit, and also played a key role within the company’s Global Xpress development programme.

Kai will be responsible for Inmarsat’s ground-breaking portfolio of connectivity services for the business aviation industry, including its global, high-speed Jet ConneX inflight Wi-Fi solution, which delivers an in-the-air broadband experience comparable to on-the-ground connections. In addition, he will oversee next year’s business aviation launch of the European Aviation Network (EAN), the world’s first inflight broadband that combines dedicated satellite coverage with a complementary LTE-based ground network.

Prior to joining Inmarsat, Kai was the Divisional Director for Navy Shipboard Satellite Communications, as well as airborne and expeditionary programmes, such as Navy VIP Aircraft Communications and the Joint Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) project for The Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization (JIEDDO), which is a combat support organization of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

Philip Balaam, President, Inmarsat Aviation, said: “Kai has made a huge contribution to Inmarsat since he joined seven years ago. In particular, he was instrumental in the strategy and development of the Global Xpress network. Through his experience with the US Navy, and Inmarsat Government, and working closely with our channel partners, Kai brings a broad skill set and range of experience that I have no doubt will be of great value as we continue to build on the success of our BGA business.”

Commenting on his appointment, Kai Tang said: “BGA is an exciting area for Inmarsat and for the inflight connectivity industry as a whole, both now and looking forward. Inmarsat already has a well-established ecosystem of world class partners and OEMs delivering our market-leading solutions in this space and I’m very much looking forward to working with them.”

Inmarsat is transforming the global aviation industry by bringing complete connectivity to every aircraft and flight path in the world. It is the first and only provider with a complete High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) network spanning the world. Inmarsat is also the only aviation broadband provider capable of connecting the complete aircraft from cabin to cockpit.