EMS Technologies appoints integration supremo

Aero satcoms provider EMS Technologies has made a new senior appointment to help push forward its plan to become a broad-based supplier of both equipment and services.
 
Gary Hebb has been appointed VP for innovation and strategy. He will report to Neil Mackay, the Atlanta-based company’s chief operating officer and architect of a string of acquisitions and partnerships over the past 12 months.

During the fourth quarter of last year EMS acquired New Jersey-based Formation, supplier of the airborne central processor unit (CPU) and cabin wireless access point (CWAP) for Aircell’s Gogo North American air-to-ground broadband system. Earlier in the year the company bought Iridium satcoms service provider Sky Connect, and entered into a partnership with Starling of Israel to produce Ku-band antennas for Panasonic’s emerging eXconnect broadband service for airline passengers.

Ottawa-based subsidiary EMS Satcom, where Hebb was general manager until his new appointment, is a leading supplier of airborne equipment designed to work with Inmarsat’s L-band satellite system. Last year EMS Satcom doubled its revenues from sales of core technology to OEM partners like Honeywell and Rockwell Collins as Inmarsat’s 432kbit/sec SwiftBroadband service continued to gather momentum.

In his new job Hebb will work to integrate the efforts of EMS’s core and newly acquired businesses, a process that has already begun with a promotional drive to present a single face to the connectivity market.

“Gary will play a major role in building synergy between our existing and new businesses and helping the company to deliver compelling products and services,” says Mackay. “His early priorities include the creation of new products exploiting the combined technology base of our wireless and satellite divisions, engaging common customers, sharing EMS’s engineering and support staff, and adopting common processes.”

Hebb is replaced at EMS Satcom by Joanne Walker, former corporate VP of business operations. A specialist in manufacturing, supply-chain management and operations, she played a leading part in recent years as the division’s product development successes translated into volume production. “The time is right for someone with Joanne’s skills to lead the Satcom business,” comments Mackay. “She brings with her significant operational and lean-manufacturing experience that will be critical to Satcom’s continued success in a challenging economic climate.”