ST Engineering iDirect, a satellite communications major, has turned to its internal technical vanguard to lead its next era of satellite connectivity, elevating Sridhar Kuppanna as Chief Executive Officer.
Kuppanna, who earned the “CTO of the Year” title at the 2025 Fast Mode Awards, succeeded Don Claussen on March 30. His elevation from CTO signals a strategic shift toward a software-defined, cloud-native future, emphasizing the “Intuition” ground system he helped pioneer to unify disparate satellite orbits.
Kuppanna’s journey to the C-suite is a testament to the strong technical foundations of his education in India. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Madras and a Master of Computer Applications from Alagappa University. This academic grounding in the tech hubs of Tamil Nadu provided the springboard for a career that now spans over 25 years.
Before joining iDirect in 2023, Kuppanna honed his expertise at Ind-Telesoft in Bangalore before moving into leadership roles at global firms like Ribbon Communications and Sonus.
His career has been defined by a transition from coding to orchestration, bridging the gap between the complex mathematics of satellite physics and the practical needs of modern telecommunications.
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As CTO, Kuppanna was the architect of iDirect’s push for 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) standards. Under his guidance, the company demonstrated that satellite networks could operate as a seamless extension of terrestrial 5G, allowing mobile users to maintain connectivity even in the most remote regions.
“We want to move toward networks that are seamless and software-defined,” Kuppanna said regarding his vision for the company. His strategy focuses on “multi-orbit” connectivity, the ability for a single terminal to switch between satellites in low, medium, and geostationary orbits without dropping a signal.
While he is known for deep-tech expertise, colleagues describe Kuppanna as a leader focused on the human impact of connectivity. Whether it is ensuring remote villages have internet access or providing secure communications for military personnel, his “Intuition-led” strategy is designed to make the technology invisible to the end user.
With his recent completion of the Global C-Suite Program at Wharton, Kuppanna blends a rigorous engineering mindset with a global business perspective. As CEO, he is now tasked with moving these lab-tested innovations into the global marketplace, ensuring that iDirect remains the backbone of the world’s most critical satellite conversations.