SaxaVord appoints Scott Hammond as CEO
Scott Hammond is the new chief executive of SaxaVord Spaceport, the company announced today following the death of his friend and co-founder Frank Strang.
Image courtesy SaxaVord
Until now deputy CEO, Scott (above) will take over the running of the company as it prepares to host a first test flight by rocket company RFA from the site at Lamba Ness in Unst, Shetland.
Debbie Strang (above), Saxa’s chief operating officer, will take over his role as deputy CEO. Mairi Prior is appointed to the board as finance director.
“Of course these are not the circumstances in which I would wish to be taking over – Frank’s death has come as a huge blow both to myself as a long-standing friend and colleague and to everyone in the Saxa team,” he said.
“But it was Frank’s firm wish that we should complete the mission that he and I and Debbie set out on way back in 2017, of turning SaxaVord into a commercial success story.
“We have come a long way since then, with all the infrastructure and personnel in place, as well as the requisite licences, to become the UK’s and Europe’s leading vertical launch rocket site.
“I am honoured to have been chosen to lead the company and will continue to give my heart and soul to this project as CEO.
“I look forward to working closely with the team, our clients, investors, government and regulators to put the UK on the map as Europe's gateway to space.”
Scott was a co-founder with Frank and Debbie of the original Shetland Space Centre, now SaxaVord Spaceport, in 2017 and as a former RAF Tornado pilot, staff officer and flight commander played a critical role in the technical set up of the site, including trajectory analysis, rocket evaluation and operating procedures as well as leading the planning, design and build of the ground infrastructure to meet market needs.
He was also key liaison with government and regulatory agencies over the formulation of the UK’s first spaceport regulations.
Debbie trained as an RAF supply and logistics officer and was operations officer at RAF Lossiemouth before joining the Cairngorms National Park Authority as tourism and economic development manager.
As COO, Debbie leads the strategic development of the company and oversees SaxaZero, education, visitor management and tourism opportunities.
