BAI Communications appoints three non-executive directors

BAI Communications has appointed Jean-Baptiste Rousselot, Jan Heydolph and Jung-Yup Lee as non-executive directors, adding three board members with backgrounds in telecommunications and infrastructure investment.

Rousselot joined the board through an appointment by minority shareholder AIMCo. Heydolph and Lee had joined earlier and are now being formally recognised in the role.

The appointments come as BAI broadens its Australian business beyond broadcast infrastructure into communications and digital infrastructure services, including work linked to mining, resources and energy operations following the acquisition and rebranding of Titan ICT.

Rousselot brings more than 25 years of senior leadership experience across the Australian and New Zealand media and telecommunications sectors. Most recently, he was chief executive officer of Chorus, New Zealand's largest fibre network company.

Before that, he held several senior roles at NBN, including chief strategy, technology, regulatory and transformation officer and chief network operations officer. Earlier in his career, he was executive director of BigPond Media at Telstra.

His academic background includes an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, a master's in civil engineering from École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, and graduate membership of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Rousselot said the appointment comes at a significant point for the company.

"I am delighted to join the BAI Communications Board at such an exciting moment for the business," said Jean-Baptiste Rousselot, non-executive director, BAI Communications. "BAI has built a remarkable platform for growth, from national broadcast infrastructure to mission-critical communications networks, and I look forward to contributing to its next phase. Australia's digital network needs are evolving rapidly, and BAI is exceptionally well placed to meet them."

Heydolph brings a background in infrastructure and private equity portfolio work. Most recently, he was managing director, portfolio value creation at CPP Investments.

Earlier, he worked at Volkswagen Group, where he led the company's corporate strategy team for China and ASEAN. His earlier career included advisory and strategy work across asset-heavy sectors in the Asia-Pacific region.

He said he sees scope for further development across both the company's established and newer business lines.

"BAI operates at the dynamic intersection of technological innovation and critical networks," said Jan Heydolph, non-executive director, BAI Communications. "Having spent many years focused on creating value in complex capital-intensive businesses, I see great opportunity in what BAI is building, both in broadcast and in its expansion into digital and connectivity services, particularly in the mining and resources space."

Lee represents CPP Investments, BAI's majority shareholder, on the board. He is a managing director in the investor's APAC infrastructure team and has more than two decades of private investment experience across Asia.

Before joining CPP Investments, Lee was a partner at Headland Capital Partners, formerly HSBC Private Equity Asia. He holds a bachelor of science in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Seoul National University.

His appointment underlines CPP Investments' continuing involvement in the Australian communications infrastructure group, which it has backed for nearly two decades.

"BAI's mission-critical networks underpin some of Australia's most essential services, from broadcast and public safety to the industries driving the economy," said Jung-Yup Lee, non-executive director, BAI Communications. "It is a business CPP Investments has been proud to support for close to two decades, and I look forward to helping BAI accelerate its growth from a position of real strength."

Board changes

BAI chair Bart Vogel said the three directors bring experience across regulated telecommunications operations, digital assets, Asian investment markets and portfolio value creation.

He said the appointments align with the company's strategic direction in Australia, where BAI remains headquartered in Sydney and focused on broadcasters, public safety networks and communications systems for demanding operating environments.

"We are pleased to welcome JB to the board, and also to welcome and recognise the contributions JY and Jan have made since joining. Each brings a distinctive and complementary set of skills - JB's operational experience leading regulated telecommunications businesses in Australia and New Zealand, JY's expertise in digital assets and investment across Asia, and Jan's track record in driving value creation across private equity and real assets portfolios. Together with our existing directors, they strengthen our board's capacity to guide BAI's strategy as we continue to expand our role as a trusted partner to Australia's broadcasters, and grow our mission-critical communications and digital infrastructure offering. BAI Communications had its genesis in Australia and has grown into a highly successful global business. The Northern Hemisphere now operates as a separate organisation, Boldyn Networks. In Australia, the business remains as BAI Communications, headquartered in Sydney. The businesses remain close collaborators," said Bart Vogel, chair, BAI Communications.

BAI runs a broadcast network that reaches 99% of the Australian population with managed television and radio services. It also provides communications services used in public safety and in sectors including transport, mining and resources.

The Australian business forms part of a broader network alongside Boldyn Networks, which operates in the Northern Hemisphere. While the two businesses now operate separately, they remain close collaborators.