Neo Space Group (NSG), wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), appointed Martijn Blanken, a global telecommunications expert, as its new CEO. Blanken brings over 25 years of extensive experience in the telecommunications and technology sector, having held numerous executive and advisory positions prior to joining NSG. He notably served as CEO of EXA Infrastructure, a company providing a digital infrastructure platform connecting Europe and North America.

Blanken also served as a Senior Advisor at global infrastructure consulting firm Squared Capital and was Group Managing Director and Chief Customer Officer at Telstra Enterprise and was also a member of the Executive Committee of Telstra Corporation. Additionally, he was appointed as the CEO of Telstra Global, where he successfully transformed the company into a leading service provider in the Asia-Pacific region.

In May, the PIF announced the establishment of NSG poised to become a national champion in the satellite and space sector. NSG will enhance the space and satellite sector by developing local capabilities and boosting its strategic position within the growing global space economy, Agraam reported. The company intends to invest in startups and foster promising entrepreneurs in space technology within the Kingdom and globally, in alignment with Vision 2030. This initiative aims to promote diversity, create employment opportunities, and drive the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia.