Pivotel makes a new connection

FORMER Optus executive Sam Kennedy (pictured) is rumoured to be joining Gold Coast telco Pivotel next year.

Ms Kennedy was the director of strategy and innovation at Optus for close to three years between 2015 and 2018 and prior to that was Optus state director for Queensland and the Northern Territory.

She also spent eight years at Telstra, three of which as area general manager for the Gold Coast.

The new appointment comes after an expansion by Southport-based Pivotel into new markets.

In August it bought Wellington-based Wrights Satellite Connections Ltd (WSC), a leading-edge provider of mobile satellite communications solutions to the government, defence and maritime industries in New Zealand.

Prior to that, it acquired North American satellite solutions company, Global Marine Networks, in September 2017 as part of an accelerated push into the satellite data communications market.

Pivotel provides 65,000 mobile and satellite phone services across Australia. It counts the Northern Territory government as a customer.

It competes with telecommunications giants such as Telstra and services customers in remote and rural communities through its network of satellite operators including Thuraya and US-based Inmarsat and Iridium, and has more than 70 staff.