Satellites
Satellite industry veteran Gaurav Kharod passes away
Veteran satellite executive remembered for leadership across Asia-Pacific markets
NEW DELHI: The satellite communications industry is mourning the loss of Gaurav Kharod, a widely respected executive who spent more than three decades helping shape the growth of satellite connectivity and media services across Asia-Pacific.
Kharod, who most recently served as regional vice president for APAC at Intelsat, was remembered by colleagues and industry peers as a seasoned leader known as much for his warmth and mentorship as for his deep technical and commercial expertise.
News of his passing triggered an outpouring of tributes across LinkedIn and industry circles from executives spanning the satellite, telecom and broadcasting sectors. Messages of condolence poured in from across the global satcom community, with many expressing support for his family, loved ones and the wider Intelsat-SES network.
Gaurav Kharod was associated with Intelsat for over 14 years, rising through leadership roles across India, South Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. In 2023, he was promoted to regional vice president for APAC after leading the company’s South Asia and India operations, where he helped expand its presence across media distribution, enterprise networks, maritime connectivity and aviation services.
Before joining Intelsat, Kharod held leadership roles at Conax, Viasat, Hughes Escorts Communications and Tata Telecom. Over his career, he built expertise in sales, product management, network engineering, regulatory affairs and business development. He earned an MBA in marketing from B. K. School of Business Management and an electronics engineering degree from Sardar Patel University.
Colleagues frequently described him as a bridge-builder who combined strategic thinking with an approachable leadership style, helping navigate the fast-evolving satellite and broadcasting landscape across multiple markets.
His passing leaves a significant void in the satellite communications community, where he was regarded not just as an industry veteran, but as one of the sector’s most respected relationship-builders and advocates for connectivity growth across the region.
