Leadership Team
Proven ground infrastructure expertise, committed to operational excellence
SatPort’s executive leadership team brings an average of more than 20 years of industry experience, with deep expertise across technology, communications, tower and telecom, and network implementation. Together, they combine proven ground infrastructure know-how with unmatched industry credentials, and they lead a team of more than 120 full-time employees dedicated to operational excellence.
As the world’s leading carrier-neutral ground infrastructure platform, SatPort is purpose-built to support the next generation of satellite operators. Our leaders pair the operational depth to build mission-critical infrastructure with the financial strength to fund, develop and scale it globally.
With a track record of commitment to our customers and of delivering results, our leadership team drives SatPort’s success, so operators can focus on space while we power their ground networks.
Joe Spytek
Chief Executive Officer
Joe Spytek serves as Chief Executive Officer at SatPort. He has nearly 30 years of experience in leadership and international business, with an established track record in the satellite telecom space. Prior to joining SatPort, Joe served as CEO at global managed connectivity provider, Speedcast. He served as Co-Founder and CEO at ITC Global for 17 years, where he grew the company from a disaster recovery start-up to a remote communications leader prior to overseeing the sale of the business to Panasonic’s mobility communications division. Joe was inducted into Space and Satellite Professionals International's (SSPI) Hall of Fame in 2023. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Vanderbilt University.
Alessandro Caranci
Chief Commercial Officer
Alessandro Caranci serves as Chief Commercial Officer at SatPort, leading the company’s global commercial organization. He has more than 25 years of experience in the satellite sector with leading European companies, including two decades at Telespazio, a Leonardo and Thales joint venture providing satellite services and space solutions worldwide, where he served in roles of increasing responsibility, including SVP Satellite Communications. He also previously served in Commercial leadership roles at Eutelsat and Skylogic. Alessandro holds a degree in Electronic Engineering from the University La Sapienza of Rome.
Stephen Chernow
General Counsel
Stephen Chernow serves as General Counsel at SatPort, leading the company’s global legal, governance, compliance and regulatory functions. An experienced corporate attorney, he has spent 25 years handling legal, regulatory and commercial matters for leading satellite and space companies including Intelsat, OneWeb and Kymeta, with core expertise in satellite customer and vendor contracts, trade compliance, FCC regulations and corporate restructuring. Stephen holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Benjamin Michali
Interim CFO
Benjamin Michali serves as Interim CFO, leading SatPort's global finance function, financial strategy, capital allocation and M&A. He brings extensive experience across private equity and investment banking, with a track record in building finance functions, executing acquisitions and driving financial transformation. Prior to SatPort, Benjamin held senior finance positions at Infinigate (Bridgepoint), Adenza (Thoma Bravo) and Sequel Business Solutions (Hg), three private equity-backed technology businesses. He has also worked in private equity at Rothschild’s Five Arrows and in investment banking at Credit Suisse. Benjamin holds an MSc in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics.
Shylesh Moras
Chief Operating Officer
Shylesh Moras serves as Chief Operating Officer at SatPort, providing direction for all global infrastructure build, supporting the company’s mission of developing world class satellite ground infrastructure. A telecommunications infrastructure executive with a track record of building and scaling platforms globally, he spent more than a decade as SVP of Operations at Phoenix Tower International, a global owner and operator of wireless communications towers and related infrastructure, where he oversaw the development and operation of more than 33,000 wireless infrastructure assets across Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States. Shy holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in structural engineering from McGill University.
Matt Prange
Chief Technology Officer
Matt Prange serves as Chief Technology Officer at SatPort, leading the global technology organization and is responsible for the strategy, selection, testing and implementation of technology platforms, as well as managing SatPorts global Teleport estate. He has an extensive career in satellite communications, including more than 25 years in technology leadership roles of increasing responsibility at SES, a global satellite operator delivering video and data connectivity services. His most recent role at SES was SVP of Infrastructure Engineering & Operations, where he led selection, implementation and operational management of SES’s global teleport, network and facilities. Matt holds a master’s degree in Space Systems Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology, an MBA from the University of Liverpool, and a BSc (Hons) from Liverpool John Moores University.
Xavier Rocoplan
Deputy CEO
Xavier Rocoplan serves as Deputy CEO at SatPort, strategically supporting the overall management of the company. He spent 25 years at Millicom, a leading provider of mobile and fixed broadband services across Latin America, where he served in commercial and technology leadership roles, including Chief Commercial & Technology Officer, EVP and CTIO, and Chief Global Networks Officer, and earlier led the tower monetization program that created tower companies in Ghana, Tanzania, DRC and Colombia. Xavier holds a master’s degree from École Nationale Supérieure des Telecommunications de Paris and Université Paris IX Dauphine.
Dave Thomas
Chief Information Officer
Dave Thomas serves as Chief Information Officer at SatPort, leading the IT organisation where he is responsible for IT and cloud technology, AI strategy and security. He has more than 25 years of experience leading the design, implementation and testing of physical, personnel and cyber security measures that protect critical infrastructure, national security and financial organizations, with prior leadership roles at G-Research, the UK Department for Work and Pensions and the UK Ministry of Defence. His most recent role was VP Engineering at GoCardless, a UK Fintech, where he led IT, cloud infrastructure, security and resilience. Dave holds a master’s degree in the Management of Information, Security and Risk from City St George’s, University of London, and a bachelor's degree in business studies from the University of Sheffield.