Replacing longtime Inmarsat stalwart Ronald Spithout as president of its core maritime division has been something of a baptism of fire for Ben Palmer.

Not only did Palmer join Inmarsat on the day of its takeover by US satellite communications group Viasat was announced, but his first month included 10 days out after contracting Covid.

Nevertheless, the former head of Northrop Grumman Mission Systems in Europe whose initial career was as a civil servant at the UK's Ministry of Defence from 1994 to 2006, talked to TradeWinds on day 34.