Loral Space & Communications Inc announced Tuesday it has promoted Patrick DeWitt to chief executive officer of Loral's satellite manufacturing subsidiary, Space Systems/Loral, and has promoted John Celli as president and chief operating officer.
DeWitt, 60, was most recently president of SS/L, where he has led the company through one of its most successful periods in the company's history. Since 2003, SS/L has booked 12 new commercial satellite awards, more than any other satellite manufacturer.
DeWitt has held senior management positions with SS/L and its predecessor companies since 1973.
Celli, previously executive vice president of the company, will succeed DeWitt as president of SS/L.
With nearly 30 years of experience, Celli, 57, is a veteran of the satellite industry. Starting in 2001, Celli served as SS/L's senior vice president of engineering, manufacturing and test operations, where he was responsible for the development, manufacturing, testing and procurement for all SS/L satellites, as well as managing the company's materiel, information systems and facilities organizations.
Celli originally joined the company in 1981 as an antenna mechanical engineer and has held increasingly important roles with the company. Before joining SS/L, he held various engineering and project management roles with the Space and Ground Systems division of Alenia S.P.A.
