CesiumAstro has just taken its first step into the Asia Pacific region with the opening of its Tokyo office—marking a significant milestone in the company’s global journey to deliver mission-ready space communications technology, from design to deployment.
To support this expansion, Boyd & Moore Executive Search partnered with CesiumAstro to identify and secure key leadership for the Japan market. We’re proud to have placed Tak Masamura as Country Manager and Masatsugu Higashi as Senior Director of Business Development—two leaders well-positioned to drive the company’s growth in the region.
With its Japan presence now established, Boyd & Moore SVP & Director, Avinash Tiwari, sat down with CesiumAstro’s Chief Revenue Officer, Chris “Trey” Pappas, who has been part of the company’s journey from the start. Trey spoke with us about how CesiumAstro is shaping the future of communications—and what this next chapter in Japan means for the business.
With your entry into Japan now underway, how do you see this shaping the next phase of CesiumAstro’s journey?
Japan marks an important step in CesiumAstro’s growth. Our expansion here is more than geographic; it’s a commitment to partnering with one of the most technologically advanced and innovation-driven regions in the world. Japan’s tradition of precision, quality, and long-term vision aligns closely with our values, and as we grow our presence here, we hope to contribute meaningfully to the local ecosystem while learning from industry experts.
For those unfamiliar with CesiumAstro, how would you describe what the company does - and what makes it unique in the aerospace and communications space?
CesiumAstro develops advanced communication systems using active phased array technology for space, air, and ground. What sets us apart is that we develop everything in-house, from hardware and software to advanced beamforming technology.
Active phased arrays and software-defined systems are the bedrock not only of what is required for government systems, but of what is required for the highest efficiency of commercial use as well. It’s going to be the next general-purpose technology and will be on everything – everything that goes into space. Within the next ten years, it will be on every 6G cell tower, every car, and every plane, with the ability to deliver high-bandwidth, highly secure data transmission.
The technology itself isn’t new, it’s been around for over 100 years and is in the nose cone of every advanced fighter aircraft today. Historically, however, it has been deployed as a highly complex, bespoke system. We’re changing that by developing our product as ready to integrate and implement across a wide range of platforms, satellites, landers, rovers, cars and eventually cell-towers.
The demand for data, especially mobile data, is constantly increasing. Cesium Astro is building communication systems that will power the next generation of connectivity.
What kinds of challenges or opportunities do you see in the Japanese or APAC markets when it comes to space-based communications and aerospace innovation?
Japan and the broader APAC region have shown strong and growing interest in building resilient, high-performing space-based communications infrastructure. We see tremendous opportunity to work together in meeting evolving needs across both defense and commercial applications. One key challenge will be ensuring that new technologies can integrate with existing systems and standards, while also anticipating and preparing for future demands.
Space is, of course, a highly technical field—but it’s also a very personal and relationship-driven market. By establishing our office here in Japan, we’re beginning to nurture those essential relationships. It’s taken us many years to develop not only our product, but also the deep understanding and trust that come with it. We know it will take time to fully establish ourselves in this region—but we’re committed to doing so, especially as we continue hiring and adding new talent and capabilities. We want to become a trusted name in this market, and we’re ready to invest in making that happen. Teamwork and a shared commitment to excellence will be essential in tackling these challenges together.
As you establish your presence here, what are you most excited about in the coming 12–24 months?
We’re excited to get started in the space economy here. It’s projected to become a trillion-dollar industry by 2030–2035, and while there are already some very large players in the field, we believe space still offers massive opportunity.
We’ve seen the path that New Space startups have taken in both the U.S. and Japan—and we know that building in this kind of challenging environment requires an entire ecosystem. The shift from government-led, government-purpose missions to a truly commercial market takes time—and it also takes a different way of thinking.
Over the next 12–24 months, our focus is on building that ecosystem through collaboration—with industry leaders, government stakeholders, and academic institutions—to deepen our understanding of the market and its evolving needs.
Japan’s talent base, engineering expertise, and culture of precision present incredible opportunities to co-develop and deliver solutions that are uniquely suited to this region. We see this as a period of shared growth, innovation, and discovery.
What kind of people thrive at CesiumAstro - especially in a fast-moving, cross-cultural environment like Japan?
People who thrive at CesiumAstro are mission-driven, curious, and team oriented. We welcome engineers and leaders who approach challenges with a creative and collaborative mindset. We look for individuals who are energized by innovation but grounded in accountability and execution. In a cross-cultural environment like Japan, success also means bringing cultural awareness and mutual respect to the forefront
What has it been like working with Boyd & Moore during this early stage of your Japan journey?
It has been a positive and constructive experience working with Boyd & Moore. Your insights into the local culture, business environment, and talent landscape were invaluable. The quality of candidates provided made it challenging in the beginning, as many of them could have been a great fit, but ultimately, the final two we selected were a cut above and very complementary to each other. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Boyd & Moore and growing together in the years ahead.
As CesiumAstro begins this exciting new chapter in Japan, we’re proud to have played a part in laying the foundation for their growth in the region. We wish the entire CesiumAstro team great success as they bring their groundbreaking technology and bold vision to new frontiers.
A special congratulations to Masa and Tak on their new leadership roles—we’re confident they’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the company’s journey in Japan and across APAC.
Written By
Lana Bowman
Marketing Manager
