ABS Names Satellite Veteran Mark Rigolle as New CEO to Lead Through Industry Changes
ABS has appointed satellite industry veteran Mark Rigolle as its new CEO. Rigolle takes over the leadership role from Amit Somani, who departed the Dubai-based operator earlier this year. Mark brings decades of experience across geostationary and low Earth orbit satellite businesses to help ABS navigate ongoing transformations in the market.
Most recently, Mark served as Chief Operating Officer for the proposed Rivada Space Networks LEO constellation project before it was shut down. He also co-founded regional satcom provider Kacific and led O3b Networks as CEO during its acquisition by SES. With this diverse background spanning both traditional and emerging satellite models, Rigolle is well-positioned to guide ABS through an era of change.
A Pivotal Time for ABS and the Industry
ABS Chair Parm Sandhu stated that Mark’s appointment comes at a “pivotal time” as ABS refocuses its strategy under new ownership. The company recently rebranded from Asia Broadcast Satellite to Agility Beyond Space while moving headquarters to the UAE. Meanwhile, geostationary satellite operators face growing competition from SpaceX’s massive and globally expanding Starlink LEO network.
For his part, Mark Rigolle acknowledged that he is joining ABS during a time of “rapid market evolution” across the fixed satellite industry. With his experience turning around satellite businesses like O3b Networks, Mark hopes to utilize his expertise in multi-orbit systems as ABS carves out new partnerships and unlocks value from its strategic holdings to thrive in an increasingly competitive commercial space.
