Thuraya appoints Eric Béranger to its Board of Directors

Ahmad Julfar, Chairman of Thuraya's Board said: "Thuraya is pleased to welcome Eric Béranger to our Board of Directors. Eric's enormous industry knowledge and broad business expertise brings further depth to our Board and will help to support Thuraya's future initiatives. This is particularly timely and relevant as we are currently engaged in planning for the future and evaluating different strategic options ahead. We look forward to benefiting from Eric's experience and contribution for Thuraya's continued success. We thank Charles Moore for his contribution to Thuraya over the past few years and wish him the best."

Béranger founded Astrium Services in 2003 and previously served as its Chief Executive Officer, the company is now one of the world's largest satellite service providers offering military, governmental and commercial telecommunications services, as well as earth-observation satellite services.

In October 2012, Béranger was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Astrium Satellites, a leading provider of satellite system solutions, including spacecraft, ground segments, payloads and equipment.

Born in 1963, and a graduate of France's École Polytechnique, he oversaw year-on-year growth of nearly 50% for Astrium Services, the company's youngest division prior to the acquisition of Vizada in 2011.

A graduate of France's Advanced School of Telecommunications (ENST), Béranger worked for France Telecom and Société Générale earlier in his career before joining Matra Marconi Space (now Astrium Satellites).

He has also served as the Chairman of the European Satellite Operators' Association (ESOA) until November 2012.