Indian-American Pradman Kaul, chairman and chief executive officer Hughes Network Systems has been named Via Satellite magazine's Satellite Executive of the Year for 2008.
Kaul has been a director as well as CEO and president since February 3, 2006, and has been HNS' CEO and president since 2000. Kaul was appointed to HNS' board of managers on April 22, 2005, and serves as its chairman.
Previously, Kaul served as president and chief operating officer, executive vice president and director of engineering of HNS. Before joining HNS in 1973, Kaul worked at COMSAT Laboratories in Clarksburg, Maryland.
"It is indeed an honour to receive this recognition by the leading publication in the satellite industry," said Kaul.
"The year 2008 was especially significant because our team succeeded in validating SPACEWAY 3's commercial success - rolling out nationwide service to over 100,000 new customers, while continuing to expand our broadband satellite footprint worldwide."
2008 was a year of many accomplishments for Kaul and his team, starting with the commercial launch of the SPACEWAY(R) 3 broadband satellite system, an effort initiated more than a decade ago.