General Atomics

Andrew Cawthorne appointed as Managing Director of SSTL

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) has today announced that SSTL shareholder Airbus Defence & Space have appointed Andrew Cawthorne in his position as Managing Director, effective immediately.



Image courtesy SSTL

Andrew Cawthorne (above) steps into this role with extensive experience and a proven track record in driving business growth and operational excellence.

Sir Martin Sweeting, Chairman of SSTL, said: “On behalf of the entire team here at SSTL, I am pleased to congratulate Andrew on his well-deserved appointment as Managing Director. His exceptional leadership skills, strategic acumen, and deep understanding of our industry make him the ideal person to guide SSTL through its next phase of innovation and growth. We are confident Andrew will continue to strengthen SSTL’s position as a global leader in satellite technology.”

Andrew Cawthorne said: “I am deeply honoured to be appointed Managing Director of SSTL, a company renowned for its pioneering achievements in satellite technology and one that I have been proud to have been a part of for over 20 years.

"I am committed to working closely with our talented team to build on SSTL’s proud heritage, deliver outstanding results for our customers and drive forward innovation and sustainability in satellite missions and space exploration.”



Above: (left to right) Sir Martin Sweeting, SSTL Executive Chairman, Alain Faure, Head of Space Systems, Airbus, Andrew Cawthorne – SSTL Managing Director and Mikaël Butterbach – SVP HR Airbus Space Systems, at SSTL, Guildford, Surrey.
Courtesy SSTL


Andrew Cawthorne brings over two decades expertise in the space and technology sectors. Joining SSTL in 2004 Andrew initially worked as a Systems Engineer on the TopSat Imaging Project and as Technical Mission Lead for NigeriaSat-2. Andrew has since held several key commercial and leadership positions, most recently as Director of Business Development reporting into Managing Director, Phil Brownnett. When SSTL tragically lost Phil in June 2024 to a sudden illness, Andrew was appointed as Interim Managing Director.

Related

UK aviation gender pay gap hits 53% as women miss out on highest-paid roles
Annual WiAA Charter Dinner, November 2025, in Glasgow
UK aviation gender pay gap hits 53% as women miss out on highest-paid roles
A new industry report finds aviation has one of the UK's widest gender pay gaps, with women still underrepresented in the technical, operational and leadership roles that drive career progression.
Aerospace

8 Oct 2026

Southend Airport appoints Sharmeen Divan as Interim CEO
Sharmeen Divan
Southend Airport appoints Sharmeen Divan as Interim CEO
As London Southend progresses in the next phase of its growth, the UK’s fastest growing airport has appointed Sharmeen Divan as its Interim CEO.
Aerospace

7 Oct 2026

Open Cosmos plans 192-satellite ConnectedCosmos LEO constellation by 2030
Open Cosmos will build a core constellation of 192 low Earth orbit satellites by 2030
Open Cosmos plans 192-satellite ConnectedCosmos LEO constellation by 2030
Open Cosmos will build a core network of 192 ConnectedCosmos satellites by 2030, as it expands its secure low Earth orbit (LEO) communications network following a €300 million funding round.
72% of UK manufacturers pursuing defence opportunities, report finds
A robotic arm of the car production plant is working as UK automotive suppliers ask for help to secure defence contracts.
72% of UK manufacturers pursuing defence opportunities, report finds
UK manufacturers are increasingly exploring defence opportunities as automotive pressures intensify, while AI adoption across the industry continues to accelerate.
Defence

8 Oct 2026

How a Royal Navy officer prevented HMS Prince of Wales colliding with a ferry
HMS Prince of Wales replenishment
How a Royal Navy officer prevented HMS Prince of Wales colliding with a ferry
Lieutenant David Hardiman has received a prestigious award after his quick thinking helped avert a potentially catastrophic collision between HMS Prince of Wales and passenger ferry GNV Sirio in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Defence

8 Oct 2026

BAE Systems awarded Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II EW contract
F-35
BAE Systems awarded Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II EW contract
A long-term contributor to the F-35 programme, BAE Systems is continuing to help drive its advance with a contract from Lockheed Martin to retrofit and integrate high-performance electronic warfare (EW) systems for the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter.
Defence Member News

8 Oct 2026

Excelerate Technology to build UK CNI robotic security solution
Satellite in Earth orbit
Excelerate Technology to build UK CNI robotic security solution
In a project co-funded by the European Space Agency Business Applications and Space Solutions (ESA BASS) and supported by the UK Space Agency, Excelerate Technology will build and demonstrate how space-enabled assets can provide innovative safety and security solutions, including protection of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) at a site in the UK.
World Space Week: How British technology will help ESA return to the Moon
ESA Argonaut
World Space Week: How British technology will help ESA return to the Moon
As Europe prepares to return to the Moon, British-developed LEIA LiDAR technology will help ESA's Argonaut lander autonomously identify safe touchdown zones on the lunar surface.
Space

5 Oct 2026

Airbus delivers first next-generation satellites for OneWeb constellation
OneWeb satellites in transport container at Airbus
Airbus delivers first next-generation satellites for OneWeb constellation
A new generation of OneWeb spacecraft is heading for launch, helping Eutelsat sustain and expand its low Earth orbit connectivity network for governments, businesses and institutions worldwide.
Member News Space

5 Oct 2026

London Fire Brigade Cadets gain practical skills at firefighting weekend
Capita Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh, firefighting weekend.
London Fire Brigade Cadets gain practical skills at firefighting weekend
Continuing its longstanding support for London Fire Brigade’s Fire Cadets, Securitas UK has given 16 young people practical training at its ninth annual firefighting weekend, held at the Capita Fire Service College in Moreton-in-Marsh.
Member News Security

7 Oct 2026

Cyacomb launches counter-terrorism platform to identify terrorist content on digital devices
Digital security.
Cyacomb launches counter-terrorism platform to identify terrorist content on digital devices
A new counter-terrorism capability developed by Edinburgh-based Cyacomb can help investigators rapidly identify known terrorist material on digital devices, as online radicalisation creates new challenges for law enforcement services.
Member News Security

7 Oct 2026

RAF Barnham future uncertain as police seek to retain training facility
RAF Barnham
RAF Barnham future uncertain as police seek to retain training facility
Norfolk and Suffolk Police are fighting to retain former RAF Barnham after the government marked the MoD-owned site to accommodate asylum seekers.
Defence Security

7 Oct 2026