The Hague, The Netherlands, May 16 -- New Skies Satellites N.V. (AEX, NYSE: NSK), the global satellite communications company, announced today that its shareholders have elected Dr. Ashok Ganguly to its Supervisory Board and re-elected eight members already serving on the Board.
Dr. Ganguly is currently the Chairman of ICI India Ltd. and a director on the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India. In addition, Dr. Ganguly heads his own company, Technology Network India Pvt Ltd., which focuses on industrial research and development and supply chain management. Dr. Ganguly’s professional career spanned 35 years with Unilever, which culminated with his service as a member of the board of directors of Unilever N.V. from 1990 through 1997 with responsibility for world-wide research and technology. Dr. Ganguly is also a non-executive director of British Airways plc, Mahindra & Mahindra and WIPRO Ltd.
During his career, Dr. Ganguly has served on several public bodies, including as a member of the Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India (1985-89), and on the UK Advisory Board of Research Councils. His honors include, among others, the Indian award of Padma Bhushan and being named an Honorary Professor by the Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai.
The chairman of New Skies Satellites’ Supervisory Board, Terry Seddon, said: "We are delighted to welcome Dr. Ganguly to our Supervisory Board. His extensive commercial experience, in combination with his public service on international science and research bodies, will be a great asset to New Skies. In particular, as we expand the range of services we are providing to the Indian subcontinent and prepare to launch our NSS-6 satellite later this year, significantly increasing the capacity we have available to serve both India and Asia-Pacific, we are delighted that we will have access to Dr. Ganguly’s knowledge of these important markets."
The shareholders also re-elected the eight directors currently serving on the Supervisory Board for a further one-year term. The directors are: Mr. Terry Seddon (Chairman), Mr. S.K. Fung, Mr. Jerry Kolb, Mrs. Neelie Kroes, Mr. Gerd Mueller, Mr. Luigi Ruspantini, Mr. Claude Séguin, and Mr. Donald Wear Jr.
About New Skies Satellites (AEX, NYSE: NSK)
New Skies is one of only four fixed satellite communications companies with truly global satellite coverage, offering video, voice, data and Internet communications services to a range of telecommunications carriers, broadcasters, large corporations and Internet service providers around the world. New Skies currently has six satellites in geosynchronous orbit and ground facilities around the world. The company also has two new spacecraft under construction which are planned to serve Asia and the Americas from two new orbital locations. In line with its growth strategy, the company has secured certain rights to make use of additional orbital positions including four locations serving the Americas. New Skies is headquartered in The Hague, The Netherlands, and has offices in London, Johannesburg, New Delhi, São Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Washington, D.C. Additional information is available at www.newskies.com.
