Alex Karroum, Stephen Newton and Peter Lambourne to serve as directors

BAI Communications Australia (BAI Australia) today announced the appointment of Bart Vogel to the position of Chair of its Board. Mr Vogel was a member of the BAI Communications global board from 2015 to 2023 and acted as the interim Chair in early 2022. He will oversee the overall strategic direction of the newly formed BAI Australia Board effective immediately.

Mr Vogel adds a wealth of leadership experience and insight into digital and legacy technologies, business transformation, market positioning, strategy, operations, IT and mergers and acquisitions. In his role, Mr Vogel will provide strategic leadership and counsel to BAI, with the full support of its global shareholder, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments).

During his 35-year executive career, Mr Vogel was CEO of Asurion Australia, President of Lucent Technologies in Australia and Asia Pacific, and a partner of Bain & Company. Besides his role as Chair to BAI Australia, Mr Vogel is Chairman of Invocare Limited and Infomedia Limited, and a Non-Executive Director of Macquarie Technology Group Limited. He was also a key member of the BAI Australia’s Advisory Board from 2021 to December 2022.

“I am excited to chair BAI’s new Australian board and look forward to the close partnership with the executive leadership team. I am confident that the business is poised for the execution of its growth strategy that will ultimately transform Australia’s connectivity landscape; enabling ubiquitous coverage in buildings, tunnels, stadiums and other congested hard to cover areas, as well as contributing to the creation of smart precincts,” Mr Vogel said.

In addition to the appointment of Mr Vogel as Chair, Alex Karroum will continue as a board appointee of CPP Investments and Stephen Newton will continue as a board member for minority shareholder, AIMCo (Alberta Investment Management Corporation). Peter Lambourne, CEO of BAI Australia, will also join as Director. All members have a long-standing association with the company.

Through his current roles as a WestConnex board member and as Managing Director at CPP Investments, Mr Karroum is a senior representative of the infrastructure team working across Australia and the broader Asia Pacific region (ex-India). Mr Karroum was first appointed to the BAI Communications global board in 2020.

Mr Newton is currently a director of Stockland Property Group, Waypoint REIT, and Sydney Catholic Schools Ltd as well as Chair of the Finance Council for the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. He is also the Managing Director of Arcadia Funds Management Ltd. Mr Newton was first appointed to the BAI Communications global board in 2012.

Joining Broadcast Australia (now BAI Australia) as Chief Operating Officer in 2011, Mr Lambourne was appointed CEO in 2017. With over 30 years of international experience in the broadcast infrastructure and telecommunication industries, he has held senior positions at Digital Distribution Australia (DDA), Broadcast Transmission Services (BTS), WIN Television and THL Australia. Under his leadership, BAI Australia has become a leading advisor to the Australian government and broadcasting industry.

BAI Communications had its genesis in Australia and has grown into a highly successful global business. The Northern Hemisphere now operates as a separate organisation and will rebrand to Boldyn Networks at the end of June. BAI Communications will continue to operate in Australia. Both businesses remain close collaborators with the full support of its common majority shareholder, CPP Investments. 

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