KVH Industries Names Brent Bruun President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
KVH Industries has appointed Brent C. Bruun as its President and Chief Executive Officer, transitioning from his role as Interim CEO since March 2022. The Board's search committee concluded that Bruun's extensive experience and knowledge make him the best candidate to lead the company. Additionally, seasoned executives David Kagan and David Tolley have joined the Board, bringing valuable industry expertise. KVH aims for sustainable profitability and enhanced shareholder value amid challenges like leadership transitions and supply chain disruptions.
- Brent Bruun confirmed as President and CEO, emphasizing continuity and experience.
- Appointment of David Kagan and David Tolley to the Board adds industry expertise.
- Uncertainties from leadership transition may impact business operations.
- Risks related to supply chain disruptions and associated cost increases.
David Kagan and David Tolley also appointed to Board
MIDDLETOWN, R.I., June 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI), today announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) has appointed Brent C. Bruun as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board. The Board also appointed two seasoned industry executives, David Kagan and David Tolley, as directors of KVH.
Mr. Bruun has served as KVH’s Interim President and Chief Executive Officer since March 2022. He first joined KVH in 2008 and played a critical role in the growth of the Company’s industry-leading mobile connectivity business.
Cathy-Ann Martine-Dolecki, Chair of the Board, commented, “We would like to congratulate Brent on his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee conducted an extensive search process with the assistance of a nationally recognized executive placement firm and considered several well-qualified candidates. As the process continued, it became clear that Brent is the best choice to lead the Company going forward. He has the right experience, deep knowledge of KVH and our products and services, and management capabilities to successfully execute on our long-term strategy. We have already seen him succeed in the interim position and are confident that he is the right person to achieve the Company’s goals, including sustained profitability, positive operating income, and enhanced shareholder value.”
Mr. Bruun commented, “I am very excited to take on the permanent Chief Executive Officer role and appreciate the confidence the Board has placed in me. I am committed to driving progress across both the mobile connectivity and inertial navigation businesses. I look forward to working with the Board, senior leadership, and my fellow employees around the world to expand upon our foundation of innovation, leadership, outstanding products, and commitment to customers as we work to build sustainable results and drive profitability.”
Ms. Martine-Dolecki continued, “We are also pleased to welcome Dave Kagan and David Tolley to the Board. Both individuals bring important experience and perspectives. Mr. Kagan is a satellite industry veteran with more than 25 years of relevant experience. Currently the CEO of Globalstar, Inc., he brings executive leadership and turnaround expertise, as well as finance and transaction experience. Mr. Tolley brings decades of extensive capital markets, financial and operating experience, having served most recently as Chief Financial Officer of each of Intelsat and OneWeb. He also brings expertise investing across the satellite and telecommunications industry and has significant board experience. We look forward to working with both of them.”
Brent Bruun Biography
Brent C. Bruun has served as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of KVH since March 2022. He also served as Chief Operating Officer of KVH beginning in 2016, as well as Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Prior to that, he was executive vice president of mobile broadband, senior vice president of global sales and business development, and vice president of global sales and business development. He previously served as senior vice president of strategic initiatives for SES AMERICOM, a satellite operator providing services via its fleet of 16 geosynchronous satellites covering North America. Earlier in his career, Mr. Bruun held positions at KPMG LLP and General Electric. He holds a B.S. in accounting from Alfred University and is a certified public accountant.
David Kagan Biography
David (Dave) B. Kagan has served as Chief Executive Officer of Globalstar, Inc. (NYSE: GSAT) since September 2018, where he also served as President and Chief Operating Officer from December 2017 to September 2018 and from January 2016 to March 2017. From March 2017 to November 2017, he was the Chief Operating Officer of Speedcast International Limited. Mr. Kagan previously served as President of ITC Global LLC, a premier VSAT satellite services provider, from August 2014 to September 2015, and President and Chief Executive Officer of Globe Wireless LLC from June 2011 until it was sold to Inmarsat in August 2014. Prior to that, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Maritime Telecommunications Network, a major satellite services provider to the cruise, yachting, and maritime markets, from January 1997 to December 2008. Earlier in his career, he was Vice President-Finance, Treasurer, and Co-Chief Financial Officer at Norwegian Cruise Line from 1994 to 1997. Mr. Kagan holds a master’s degree of Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University and a bachelor’s degree in both Finance and Marketing from the University of South Florida, Tampa.
David Tolley Biography
David M. Tolley most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Intelsat S.A. from June 2019 to March 2022, where he helped to lead a multi-billion dollar restructuring of one of the world’s largest satellite providers. Before joining Intelsat, Mr. Tolley served as Chief Financial Officer for Network Access Associates Ltd. (formerly known as WorldVu Satellites Limited) (“OneWeb”) beginning in 2017. From 2000 to 2011, Mr. Tolley served as a Senior Managing Director in the Private Equity Group at Blackstone, where he led satellite services strategy and investing and served on the Private Equity Investment Committee. From 1990 to 2000, he was a Vice President at Morgan Stanley in the Investment Banking Division, where he provided banking and advisory services to established and emerging companies in the broader communications sector. He has served on the boards of directors of eight public and private companies, including ExteNet Systems from 2016 to 2019, New Skies Satellites from 2004 to 2006 and Centennial Communications from 2001 to 2005. Mr. Tolley holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia Business School and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and History from the University of Michigan.
Note to Editors: A high-resolution image of Mr. Brent C. Bruun is available at the KVH Press Room Image Library, kvh.com/Press-Room/Image-Library.
About KVH Industries, Inc.
KVH Industries, Inc., is a global leader in mobile connectivity and inertial navigation systems, innovating to enable a mobile world. A market leader in maritime VSAT, KVH designs, manufactures, and provides connectivity and content services globally. KVH is also a premier manufacturer of high-performance sensors and integrated inertial systems for defense and commercial applications. Founded in 1982, the company is based in Middletown, RI, with research, development, and manufacturing operations in Middletown, RI, and Tinley Park, IL, and more than a dozen offices around the globe.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For example, forward-looking statements include statements regarding our goal to achieve sustainable and profitable results, our new strategy, and our goals for greater cost discipline, improved profitability and increased shareholder value. Actual results could differ materially from the results projected in or implied by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Factors that might cause these differences include, but are not limited to, the uncertain outcome of our restructuring plan and related reduction in force, including the loss of valuable employees; uncertainties created by our leadership transition, including challenges and potential additional expenses in retaining our continuing employees, particularly in the current competitive labor market characterized by rising wages; uncertainties created by our new business strategy, which may impact customer recruitment and retention; the uncertain impact of ongoing disruptions in our supply chain and associated increases in our costs. These and other factors are discussed in more detail in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2022. Copies are available through our Investor Relations department and website, investors.kvh.com. We do not assume any obligation to update our forward-looking statements to reflect new information and developments.
KVH is a registered trademark of KVH Industries, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
| Contact: | KVH Industries, Inc. Roger Kuebel 401-608-8945 rkuebel@kvh.com | Longacre Square Partners Dan Zacchei / Joe Germani dzacchei@longacresquare.com jgermani@longacresquare.com |
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