Superloop founder Bevan Slattery steps down as chief executive, names Drew Kelton as new CEO

Superloop founder Bevan Slattery will be stepping down from his position as chief executive, moving into an executive director role effective 1 July to focus on “strategic priorities” for the network provider.

Drew Kelton, a director of Superloop sister company Megaport, will be named as Slattery’s successor in the position.

“Having started the company less than five years ago and heading towards completion of the integration of BigAir, I’m delighted that we’re now moving into the next phase of growth, with me stepping into an executive director’s role, freeing my up to focus on driving strategy and having a great CEO like Drew join the team to drive the performance of the business,” Slattery said.

Kelton joins Superloop after serving as chief executive and other senior leadership roles at DocuSign, T-Mobile Business, Bharti Airtel, Telstra International, Saturn Global and IXNET.

“I am extremely excited to be joining Superloop and to be working with Bevan,” Kelton said.

“I look forward to working with the fantastic team at Superloop to further grow the business, leverage the capability of our recent strategic acquisitions, and continue to build on our technical leadership, expanding our microwave and fibre optic networks to offer customers a fully meshed pan-Asian network.”

He added that Superloop has “quickly built a strong reputation for disruptive innovation” in designing, constructing and operating telecommunications networks and other critical infrastructure for wholesale carriers and global content providers that require infinitely scalable and reliable connectivity.

Superloop non-executive chairman Michael Malone said the company would benefit from the continued “strategic firepower” of Slattery, while the addition of Kelton should maintain Superloop’s expansion across the Asia-Pacific.

“Bevan has been a terrific CEO and as the core integration effort with BigAir is nearing completion it was becoming increasingly clear to him that his greatest value-add was focusing on the strategic opportunities for Superloop,” Malone said.

“As the founder of Superloop, no-one has invested as much expertise and time as Bevan to get the company to where it is today. Bevan continues to have a shareholding of approximately 26.8 percent in Superloop.”

He added that Kelton would bring his executive leadership experience and global perspective to Superloop.

“We are excited to have Drew join as Superloop’s next CEO. On behalf of the board, I welcome Drew to the team,” Malone said.

“His experience integrating acquisitions, developing new income streams, and incorporating technological change and disruption into industries and business models, will help drive Superloop through its next growth phase.”

Superloop posted 500 percent revenue growth for the first half of the financial year, backed by its acquisitions of NuSkope and GX2 Technology.