[Via Satellite 10-29-13] Earlier this year, Via Satellite announced that its Satellite Executive of the Year (SEOTY) for 2012 was Tom Choi, the CEO of Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS). Choi represents everything this award is about: the ability to execute daring business plans in the satellite industry, growing a one-satellite operator at breakneck speed to become a presence across many continents with many satellites. It was also the first time that the award winner had come from Asia, a notable milestone for the award.

Certainly, in recent years, the SEOTY award has seen a series of firsts. Our 2010 SEOTY winner, Petra Mateos, of Hispasat marked the first time a woman had won the award. And 2007 was an interesting year as the award was shared between Kengi Chen, Inmarsat, Kalpak Gude, Intelsat, and John Lothian, SES for their work at WRC-2007, which marked a key success for the satellite industry. This issue is particularly relevant right now with WRC-2015 looming and the satellite industry looking to keep hold of valuable spectrum as the terrestrial wireless players aim to get more spectrum for data-intensive services. However, they were not the first shared recipients of the award. The 1994 SEOTY’s were Eddy Hartenstein, DirecTV, Joseph Clayton, Thomson Consumer Services and Robert and Stanley Hubbard of U.S. Satellite Broadcasting (USSB). Robert and Stanley Hubbard remain the only members from the same family win the award.

The first award winner was Rene Anselmo of PanAmSat who was the first winner of the award in 1988. The first international award winner was Charles Bigot of Arianespace who was the SEOTY in 1993, and Jean-Yves Le Gall would repeat the feat for the company in 2005. Executives from international players such as SES, Alcatel Space, and Eutelsat have also been among the SEOTY award recipients.

It is an illustrious list and winners form part of a select club that grows by one (usually) ever year. In its 25 years of history, there has been no repeat winner of the award. At some point, this will change, but will 2013 be the year?

As we approach the end of the year, I am delighted to announce the nominations for the 2013 SEOTY award are now open.

As always, we are expecting a tight contest. What has perhaps changed in the 25 years since the award was first handed out, is that we are now in a more global marketplace than ever. Companies throughout the satellite ecosystem are targeting growth from markets such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The ecosystem is more interlinked than ever, creating a vibrant marketplace. I have no doubts it will be tougher than ever to pick a winner. So, from Rene Anselmo in 1988 to Tom Choi in 2012, we wonder who will join this honor roll in 2013.