Masood Sharif Mahmood, left. Ali Al Hashemi, right. Photos: Yahsat

Masood Mahmood’s nine-year tenure as CEO of Yahsat will end in April, the operator confirmed in a surprising announcement on Tuesday. Ali Al Hashemi, current CEO of Thuraya Telecommunications Company and the general manager of Yahsat Government Solutions, will become the new CEO in April replacing Mahmood.

The operator called Al Hashemi’s appointment as the new CEO a “direct result of Yahsat’s deep long-term succession planning initiatives and will ensure that the company maintains its momentum on the strategic vision and objectives.”

Mahmood will still play a key role in Yahsat’s future, however, as he was also announced as one of three new appointees to Yahsat’s board of directors. Musabbeh Al Kaabi, CEO of the UAE Investments platform at Mubadala Investment Company PJSC (Mubadala), will assume the position of chairman of the board, and Badr Al Olama, executive director of the UAE Clusters unit within Mubadala’s UAE Investments platform, will join as a board member. In this new role, Mahmood will work closely with the management team to ensure a seamless transition and to support Yahsat in furthering its strategic objectives as it embarks on the next stage of growth and development.

Mahmood said of his new role: “I am honored to be able to continue to actively support the company as a member of the board, and am confident that Yahsat will continue its significant contributions to the UAE space sector and economy, and further strengthen its place as a global leader in the satellite industry.”