DISH Network (NASDAQ: DISH) said Hamid Akhavan joined as President and CEO, in addition to his current role as CEO and President of EchoStar (NASDAQ: SATS). In August, DISH Network and EchoStar announced that they were merging in an all-stock transaction, Inside Towers reported, and that Akhavan would become CEO of the combined company. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year.
DISH noted that Akhavan will oversee all aspects of the company’s video services and wireless businesses, plus subsidiaries. Before joining DISH and EchoStar, Akhavan was a partner at investment firm Twin Point Capital, and a founding partner of Long Arc Capital. He has held a variety of telecom operating positions including CEO of Unify Inc. (formerly Siemens Enterprise Communications), COO at Deutsche Telekom and CEO of T-Mobile International, along with serving as a member of the Deutsche Telekom Board of Management.
“He currently serves EchoStar, DISH’s sister company, as CEO and will lead both companies in order to hit the ground running, once the merger with EchoStar is complete,” said Charlie Ergen, co-founder and chairman, DISH. “Hamid brings a unique set of skills to DISH, building off his experience in the technology, telecom, private equity and investment sectors.”
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