Latest News

August 2007

iDirect Names New Chief Executive Officer

Tech industry veteran Mary Cotton to lead accelerated growth strategy worldwide

Singapore, 22 August 2007 — Singapore Technologies Electronics Limited (ST Electronics) today announced the appointment of Mary Cotton as chief executive officer of US satellite communications company, iDirect Inc.  Ms Cotton, an experienced high-tech leader and growth strategist, will succeed current Chief Executive John Kealey effective 19 September 2007.  The appointment signals iDirect’s deep commitment to expanding its current industry leadership position into new global markets and industry applications.

Ms Cotton brings more than 18 years of technology leadership, creating and driving growth in previous roles as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in various organizations.  She currently serves as Senior Vice President with SAP, the world’s largest business application software company.  Cotton joined SAP in 2005 after she orchestrated the sale of Frictionless Commerce, a provider of supplier relationship management software, where she served as CEO.

Prior to SAP, Cotton held several top management positions over 17 years, including COO and CFO, at Aspen Technology Inc. (AspenTech), a provider of software and services that help companies improve their manufacturing processes.  There she executed a growth strategy building AspenTech from a $6m private company to a $320m publicly traded international solutions provider.  The strategy focused on continued product development and innovation, international market expansion and the acquisition of more than 20 software and services firms.

I am excited to join iDirect at this time and, together with the iDirect team and its board, guide the company on an accelerated growth path. I am looking forward to leveraging the strong team culture that built a thriving company armed with a superior product line and a reputation for contributing significantly to its worldwide partners' business success. iDirect is well-positioned to strengthen its current market leadership and pursue new, very promising business opportunities.

Mary COTTON
Incoming Chief Executive Officer, iDirect

Media contact:

Magdalen Loh
AVP / Head, Corporate Communications
Singapore Technologies Electronics Limited
Tel: (65) 6413 1788 / 9822 3321
Fax: (65) 6484 8840
Email: magloh@stee.stengg.com