Inmarsat appoints two senior leaders to advance UAV connectivity offering

Inmarsat has expanded its division dedicated to connectivity for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, with the addition of two new senior executives. Inmarsat appointed ed Jon Holmes as Senior Director of UAV Technology and Mark ter Hove as Senior Manager of European Market Development.

The number of UAVs flying in the airspace is expected to increase tenfold from 1.1m to 10m by 2027, with a far-reaching impact in various aspects of business and society, from emergency services, disaster relief and surveillance, to cargo delivery, inspection and urban transport.

Jon Holmes will be responsible for creating Inmarsat’s roadmap for UAV products and services, working with customers, partners and internal stakeholders. Jon has more than 30 years of experience in aeronautical satellite communications, most recently he served as Senior Director of Engineering and Programme Management at Cobham Aerospace Communications. Prior to this, Jon spent 16 years in a variety of engineering roles at Honeywell Aerospace, where he led the development of terminal products designed to operate with Inmarsat’s Global Xpress satellite network.

Mark ter Hove will be responsible for evaluating customer and market opportunities in Europe. He has over 25 years of aviation experience, including 12 years leading operations at British Airways franchise partners GB Airways and Astraeus Airlines, before serving as airline network manager at London’s Gatwick Airport. In his most recent role as Director of Global Air Transport at Cobham Aerospace Communications, Mark developed a global go-to-market strategy for the company’s portfolio of satcom solutions, helping airlines, air navigation service providers and airports become more integrated through communications technology.

John Broughton, Inmarsat’s Senior Vice President of Aircraft Operations and Safety, said: “We entered the commercial UAV market in 2020, leveraging our capabilities in both aviation safety and network operations. Since then, the team has grown from strength to strength – even winning a coveted award in the ATM Magazine Awards 2020 for our pop-up unmanned traffic management solution with Altitude Angel. Jon and Mark share a wealth of experience in aviation connectivity and are perfectly positioned to take our growing UAV business to the next level. With Jon’s technical expertise and Mark’s strategic prowess, we’re in a strong position to unlock the true potential of the commercial UAV market.”