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After 16 years working with serial technology entrepreneur Bevan Slattery, Belle Lajoie has been promoted to the role of co-CEO of his Soda Infrastructure business that develops and invests in hyperscale subsea and terrestrial connectivity projects.
The appointment, effective immediately, will see Lajoie work alongside Slattery in driving the strategy and operations of the Brisbane-based company, including its subsidiaries - subsea network systems group SUBCO and fibre network project HyperOne.
The executive will also step into the role of chief operating officer (COO) at Soda Group, a launchpad for innovative digital infrastructure and sustainability with other projects such as marine filming specialist and natural history footage company Biopixel, and charter vessel business Argo Expeditions.
In her co-CEO role, Lajoie will have her sights set on the build and completion of SMAP, SUBCO’s latest subsea cable project which will connect Sydney, Melbourne (Torquay), Adelaide and Perth with close to 5,000km of new fibre. She will also focus on monetisation and growth of SUBCO’s existing assets, OAC, Indigo West and Central.
"This is a really exciting time for our Infrastructure group and a critical time in the company’s growth. I’m thrilled to co-pilot alongside Bevan, we’ve worked on multiple large scale projects together over the many years we’ve worked together and we will continue to build assets that change the industry," she says.
"Building SMAP will certainly be our focus, as well as continuing to grow our global network and customer base via our other sub-sea assets."
Lajoie has worked for Slattery for over 16 years, holding various management and executive positions across Pipe Networks (formerly ASX:PWK and acquired by TPG), NEXTDC (ASX: NXT), Megaport (ASX: MP1) and Soda Group, as well as non-executive director for IntelliHR (ASX:IHR).
Soda says her technology and telecommunications experience and professional network is expansive across the multiple projects she has been involved in, ranging from building large-scale, global infrastructure projects to commercial and strategic execution.
"I’m excited to welcome Belle as co-CEO. Belle is a proven technology leader who has been instrumental in leading the scaling up of multiple businesses that I’ve founded over the years," says Slattery.
"Together we will be tackling the next stage of growth, starting with SMAP which will be the most advanced, secure and innovative submarine cable built in the country."
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