Sea Launch
Transitions To New Leadership
(7 July 2008) Effective July 3, 2008,
the Sea Launch Board of Directors has appointed Kjell Karlsen as President and
General Manager. Karlsen replaces Robert A. Peckham, who will be pursuing other
opportunities within The Boeing Company.
Kjell Karlsen joined
the Sea Launch team in 1999, as Vice President and Chief Executive Officer. In
2002, he was promoted to Executive VP and CFO, responsible for the overall
financial and business strategy of the company, including development of a
long-term business plan and annual budgets. In this position he has been
overseeing finance, accounting, taxation, contracts, pricing, insurance,
customer finance, and enterprise and partner services. He also has been
responsible for financial reporting to the Sea Launch Board as well as business
co-ordination with the Sea Launch partners.
"I am confident Kjell will
manage a smooth transition in the company's leadership," said Bill Collopy,
chairman of the Sea Launch Board. "With nearly ten years of Sea Launch
experience, he has developed a strong understanding of the organisation, the
operations and the unique international partnership, as well as a strong
relationship with the customer community, in addition to his substantial
business acumen."
Prior to joining Sea Launch, Karlsen was President of
Kvaerner, Inc., the Norwegian shipbuilder's U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia.
Concurrently, he was VP of Kvaerner Financial Services, Kvaerner's U.S.
treasury operation, reporting to the Treasurer of the Kvaerner Group (now Aker
ASA). From 1988-1997, Karlsen held increasingly responsible executive positions
with Den norske Bank of Oslo, Norway, and its New York-based operation. He has
a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of
Oregon and a Master of Business Administration degree from Lehigh
University.
Brett Carman will assume Karlsen's responsibilities as VP
and CFO. Carman joined Sea Launch in 1999, most recently serving as the
company's VP and Controller.
About Sea Launch Company
Sea Launch
Company, LLC, headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., offers the most direct and
cost-effective route to geostationary orbit for commercial communications
satellites. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the robust
Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier mass or provide longer life on orbit,
offering best value plus optimised spacecraft orbital delivery. Sea Launch also
offers launch services for medium weight satellites on the Land Launch system,
originating from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan.
(source: Sea
Launch)
