Management Team

STM's management team has extensive experience in telecom industry, embracing Fiber, GSM, VSAT, traditional voice and Internet communications markets, with deep expertise in network development, implementation and operations. Our team is formed of a new generation of young and talented professionals who work hand-in-hand with our more seasoned executive management, some of whom are among the telecommunications industry pioneers.

Our company is recognized today for having a strong worldwide team of satellite communications experts that work closely with each customer and channel partner, focused on solving their unique technical, logistical and business challenges.

At the group level STM is headed by a small Executive Committee.

			Emil Youssefzadeh, CEO Mr. Youssefzadeh founded STM in 1984 and has led its phenomenal success since he reformed it as privately held STM Group, Inc. in 2003. Widely regarded as a pioneer in the VSAT business, his accomplishments include: the launch of a domestic satellite program in his native country, Iran, in the 1970s; research and development for switched TDMA and other advanced satellite communication projects at Hughes Aircraft; plus extensive innovations in MF-TDMA networking systems at STM. He earned his Masters and Engineering Degrees in Electrical Engineering, with focus on information theory and satellite communications, from Stanford University.

			Umar Javed, Executive Vice President Mr. Javed oversees global product and services sales, global finance and operations and project execution functions. Since joining STM in 1999 as project manager, he has served as Vice President of Global Sales and Vice President of Operations. He actively participated in STM’s acquisition of Nera Broadband Satellite, Ltd., was responsible for setting up STM’s subsidiaries in Brazil and the UAE and has managed their operations. He has a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, Arizona.

			Bjorn Platou, Vice President, European Operations Mr. Platou is responsible for STM’s sales and operations in Europe and heads STM’s global research and development, training and Teleport Services business. He joined STM in 2006 with STM’s acquisition of Nera Broadband Satellite Ltd., where he served in several senior capacities, including: General Manager; Senior Vice President in Nera SatCom, Ltd. and Vice President of Asian Operations. Mr. Platou has extensive managerial and international business experience with over ten years in China setting up and running local operations for three international companies, plus several years in Canada, UK and Denmark.

			Richard Forberg, Vice President, Product Management and Marketing Mr. Forberg is responsible for STM’s marketing, product planning and strategic business initiatives. He joined STM in 2006 after providing strategic consulting services to STM for several years. Mr. Forberg has 25 years of management experience in network systems, services and software companies. He has held senior marketing, product management and business strategy roles at networking equipment vendor 3Com Corporation , distributed computing systems supplier Digital Equipment Corp., plus various high technology start-ups. Mr. Forberg holds a B.S. in Physics from Beloit College, an MS in Physics from M.I.T and a M.S. in Management Sciences & Engineering from Stanford University