IRIDIUM - Key Persons

David Stewart - CEO

Job Titles:
  • CEO
  • Non - Executive Director
  • Director of Beam Communications Holdings Limited
David Stewart is an experienced CEO and successful entrepreneur with more than 30 years in management and business leadership roles. David founded Banksia Technology Pty Limited in 1988 and successfully managed the company as a fast growing and highly profitable business. In 1996 to 1997 he instigated the successful takeovers of several competitors, including NetComm Limited. David assumed the role of CEO and Managing Director until retiring in 2016. A year later David was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of NetComm Wireless Limited, a position he held until June 2019 when NetComm was acquired by US-based Casa Systems. In 2016 David was recognised for his significant and valuable contribution to the Australian communications industry with the presentation of the Communications Ambassador 2016 award. The Australian Communications Ambassador award is the highest honour presented by ACOMMS Communications Alliance and CommsDay each year. Since retiring, David has worked with several tech startups in an advising and investing capacity. He was Chairman of Pycom from 2017 until retiring from the board in July 2021. David joined the board of Lockbox Technologies in 2018 until the company was taken over in May 2020 and in August 2019 he was announced as a board member for MyNetFone Group Limited. David Stewart has been a Director of Beam Communications Holdings Limited since November 2017 following a substantial investment.

Mark Chartres

Job Titles:
  • Independent Non - Executive Director
  • Capital Market and Investor
  • Director of the Beam
Mark Chartres brings deep capital market and investor relations experience to Beam's board. He has been in financial markets for nearly two decades providing advice, structuring finance, raising equity and advising companies on their position in the market. Mark has a Diploma in Financial Services after completing a degree in New Zealand in his earlier years. He spent five and a half years at Macquarie Group Ltd in its private wealth division before moving to Shaw and Partners in 2017 where he currently holds the role of senior investment adviser. Further, Mark is very familiar with Beam's operations, aspirations and investment profile, and has in the past assisted in furthering the Company's funding requirements as well as providing counsel on key investor expectations and priorities. Mark was appointed a Director of the Beam group of companies on 1 February 2022.

Michael Capocchi - Managing Director

Job Titles:
  • Managing Director
  • Director of Zoleo Inc. the Joint Venture
  • General Manager of the Subsidiary, Beam Communications Pty Ltd
Michael Capocchi has over 25 years' experience in the ICT industry and has held several senior management positions. Michael is based in Chicago, USA, which places him closer to the important centres for satellite communications in the USA and UK/Europe. Michael joined Beam Communications Holdings Limited as the General Manager of the subsidiary, Beam Communications Pty Ltd, in 2003 and was appointed as Managing Director of Beam Communications Holdings Limited in March 2008. Prior to joining Beam, Michael was the Regional Sales Director for Iridium Satellite LLC, directly managing the sales, distribution and channel management strategies for the Asia-Pacific region. Michael has held senior management positions as the Sales and Marketing Director of Pacific Internet responsible for establishing the Australian operations of the company and with Optus Communications. Since its inception in August 2018, Michael has been a Director of Zoleo Inc. the joint venture entity of which Beam is a 50% partner with Roadpost Inc of Canada. Michael Capocchi is an integral part of the Beam business, including managing the day to day operations of the group which occasions extensive domestic and international travel when possible.

Simon Wallace - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman
  • Director
Simon Wallace is a corporate lawyer and, based in Melbourne, he is presently an equity partner of Dentons, which is the largest law firm in the world. Simon has extensive legal and commercial proficiency, with particular expertise in the areas of project finance, fundraising and corporate governance. He also has substantial professional experience in the areas of investment banking, structured and direct equity investments, product formulation and sales. More recently, he was a director of ASX-listed Hastings Rare Metals Limited (now known as Hastings Technology Metals Limited). Simon is admitted to practise as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria, the Federal Court of Australia and the High Court of Australia, and he holds degrees from the Australian National University in both Law and Commerce. Simon has been a Director since 5 February 2015 and was elected Chairman on 22 December 2016.