HGC Global Communications, the Hong Kong-based digital infrastructure, connectivity and ICT solutions provider with international reach, has appointed Dr Frédéric Schepens as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 November 2026. He succeeds Andrew Kwok, who has decided to begin the next chapter of his career outside the Group and will support a smooth handover to ensure continuity, according to an announcement carried by Media OutReach Newswire.
The leadership change matters for customers and partners across Hong Kong and Asia because the incoming chief executive will oversee the Group's strategy and operations across its enterprise, consumer, carrier and international businesses. With Hong Kong as its home market, HGC will continue to serve local households and businesses while strengthening the city's role as an international digital hub connecting Asia and the world.
Fred is a seasoned telecoms leader with 30 years of international experience across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. He founded and led Bayobab, MTN Group's open-access digital infrastructure business, and previously held senior carrier leadership roles at Vodafone and BICS.
Darrin Webb, Executive Vice Chairman of HGC, said Fred has built and grown digital infrastructure businesses and knows how to work with customers and partners across markets. That experience is a strong fit for HGC as it expands its businesses and deepens its partnerships in Hong Kong, across Asia and beyond. Webb also thanked Andrew for his leadership and for the trust he and the team have earned over the years.
Andrew Kwok said leading HGC has been a true privilege, noting that through years of rapid industry change and challenging market conditions the company's talented and dedicated team has shown remarkable resilience, and HGC has evolved and grown stronger as a result. He expressed deep gratitude to colleagues, customers and partners for their trust and support, and said he looks forward to continuing to contribute to the industry in a new capacity. He added that Fred brings exceptional international experience across networks, carrier services and digital infrastructure and is confident he will lead HGC to even greater success.
Dr Frédéric Schepens said he is proud to join HGC and build on the expertise of its people and the trust of its customers. His focus, he said, is clear: to strengthen the Group's core businesses and bring its connectivity, digital infrastructure and ICT capabilities closer together to help customers operate securely and adopt AI with confidence. He added that the company will be ambitious in its thinking and disciplined in its execution, and that he looks forward to working closely with its people, customers and partners to turn these priorities into practical results.
The appointment comes as telecoms operators and digital infrastructure providers face growing demand to support secure operations and artificial intelligence adoption, making the integration of connectivity and ICT capabilities a competitive priority. HGC owns and operates an extensive fibre-optic network and five cross-border telecommunications routes integrated with tier-one operators in Chinese Mainland, and connects with hundreds of international telecommunications operators. The Group, a portfolio company of I Squared Capital, has 19 global offices and a staff presence in 33 cities worldwide. More information is available at www.hgc.com.hk.
