DigitalGlobe… Moving On Up…

[SatNews] An industry leader has been selected to take up the CEO & Presidential reins at DigitalGlobe.

Jeffrey R. Tarr as been appointed as DigitalGlobe‘s (NYSE: DGI) new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 5, 2011. Tarr succeeds Jill Smith, who, in September 2010, announced her intention to leave the company and was both the company’s CEO and Chairman. DigitalGlobe also named current DigitalGlobe Board Member General Howell M. Estes III as its new non-executive Chairman. Tarr comes to DigitalGlobe as a recognized leader in driving profitable growth at several of the world’s top information companies. Most recently, he was President and Chief Operating Officer at IHS Inc. During his tenure, IHS revenue grew to more than $1 billion. Tarr joined IHS from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) and previously was Chairman and CEO of Hoover’s, another publicly traded information company. Tarr also serves as a director at The Corporate Executive Board Company. He began his career at Bain & Company. Gen. Estes, who assumes the role of Chairman of the Board on April 5, 2011, consults with aerospace companies around the world. He has served as an independent member of the DigitalGlobe Board of Directors since 2007. Gen. Estes has also been instrumental in advancing U.S. leadership in the aerospace industry for several decades, serving in the U.S. Air Force for more than 30 years and ultimately rising to the position of Commander in Chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the U.S. Space Command, as well as Commander of the U.S. Air Force Space Command. He retired from the Air Force in 1998.

“With the largest image library, an extensive space and ground system, and a long history of driving innovation, DigitalGlobe is transforming the imagery-based information services market,” said Gen. Estes, who led the CEO search. “Jeff is the most qualified person to lead DigitalGlobe as it continues to expand its ability to deliver timely, accurate and essential information to government and commercial customers around the world.”

“This is an exciting time to join DigitalGlobe,” noted Tarr. “With the most capable satellite constellation, highest quality image library, and talented team of experts, DigitalGlobe plays a mission-critical role in helping customers in government and industry make high-stakes decisions. I’m looking forward to working with the team to build on past successes and create even more value for shareholders and customers.”