Fleet Space has appointed Dr. Matteo Genna as the firm’s new, Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
Matteo has been building space and near-space systems for almost 30 years. After gaining his Ph.D. in Physics from University of California, Berkeley, he joined Palo Alto-based SSL (now part of Maxar), where he led teams designing and building high-power, GEO communication satellites, LEO imaging satellites and interplanetary spacecraft and systems. Prior to joining Fleet, he headed the Remote Sensing business unit at World View Enterprises, building High Altitude Platforms Systems (HAPS) that are designed to image and measure the Earth from the stratosphere.
Matteo’s three decades’ technical and commercial experience in satellite systems will be crucial to Fleet’s long-term growth strategy for the ExoSphere product, which is already operational with more than 30 customers around the world. Following a hugely successful C Series funding round, which raised A$50 million, Fleet’s next growth phase is focused on the North American market, where ExoSphere is currently deployed on nickel exploration projects in Michigan, Minnesota and Ontario, Canada.
Matteo will be based in Tucson, Arizona, adding to Fleet’s existing presence in North America, centered on the company’s HQ in Houston, Texas. The company’s first international office outside Australia, this was established following Fleet’s oversubscribed Series B funding round ($26.4 million) in November 2021.
“I am very excited and proud to be part of the Fleet team. Building space systems that positively impact our lives on Earth is a lifelong passion and it’s clear that in ExoSphere, Fleet has something very special – a genuinely transformative technology that addresses some of humanity’s most profound and urgent challenges. Fleet Space is not only at the forefront of satellite-enabled services, but it also boasts a highly dynamic team with big bold ambitions and clever minds that are determined to make it happen. I’m eager to leverage my experience and expertise gained over nearly 30 years in the industry to drive the development of groundbreaking solutions that will shape the future of our planet. With the exceptionally talented team at Fleet Space, we will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible and deliver exceptional value to our customers.” — Dr. Matteo Genna, Chief Technology Officer, Fleet Space