Network Operations, Strategy, Business Development, Marketing, Planning

Over 20 years of telecom experience as a successful executive, line operations manager, and management consultant. Wide experience in both the U.S. and in Europe. Specializing in the following areas:

• Strategy and business planning
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Due diligence and financial valuation
• Operational improvement projects
• Marketing and business development
• Telecom Regulatory strategy
• Network Construction and Operations

Professional Experience

Telecom Expert Group (www.telecomexpertgroup.com)
Lisle, Illinois
Principal (2001-present)

Providing planning and operations-focused consulting to telecom companies and investors in North America, Europe and the Middle East.

• Led network and information technology due diligence for the privatization of a large fixed line and mobile telecom operator (over 20 million subscribers), including the review of current network and IT operations as well as development of a capital program and operations plan.
• Led the due diligence and bid preparation for a mobile acquisition, including performing the financial/bid analysis, negotiation of terms and conditions and preparation of a formal business plan.
• Led a network operational review of key value drivers for a large fixed line telecom operator (over 2 million customers), identifying operational improvements in asset utilization and productivity from process changes in installation, maintenance, network construction, and engineering.
• Revised retail product pricing strategy for a mobile operator (with 3 million customers), and led implementation of the new pricing structure. Developed a wholesale, interconnection and roaming strategy for this same operator.
• Developed a network investment and operations plan, as well as marketing and pricing plan, as part of a due diligence review and valuation of a large fixed line telecom operator.
• Developed new VOIP product opportunities for a VOIP telecom operator, including interconnection and operational implementation issues.
• Performed a strategy review for a competitive local telecom operator, and identified and screened new business opportunities.
• Created a regulatory strategy and business opportunity analysis for a mobile operator, analyzing threats and opportunities created by the new European regulatory regime.

Tele Denmark (SBC subsidiary)
Copenhagen, Denmark
Vice President (1998-2000)

Led corporate strategy and business planning at Tele Denmark, a leading European telecom operator (NYSE: TLD).

• Created strategy and business unit planning process, based on an integration of financial, operational and strategic objectives.
• Developed business plans across all Tele Danmark businesses (telephony, mobile, cable television, internet and international). Gained board approval for a fully integrated plan.
• Developed and implemented business performance scorecards, based on key operational performance indicators, for monitoring strategic, financial and operational performance. These scorecards formed the basis for business planning as well as management compensation.
• Led mission-critical negotiations regarding corporate-level joint ventures and mergers.
• Led CATV business plan, valuation study and business process improvement plan, resulting in improvement in both service and financial results.

Matav (SBC subsidiary)
Budapest, Hungary
Vice President (1996-1998)

Responsible for strategy, business development and acquisitions for Matav, the leading telecom services provider in Hungary (NYSE: MTA).

• Developed the first board-approved corporate strategy for Matav following its privatization.
• Led an overall business process benchmarking study covering construction, installation, repair, customer service and all other key processes. Implemented a comprehensive re-engineering plan based on an internally developed process improvement methodology.
• Led business planning, valuation and launch of CATV business.
• Established a joint venture creating the leading commercial television channel in Hungary.
• Completed acquisition of cable television franchises and internet/data companies.
• Negotiated industry-wide interconnection agreements with competitors and regulators.
• Led a board of directors best practices review, and presented recommended changes to the board.
• Presented Matav on the IPO road show leading to its listing on the NYSE.

Ameritech International (now an SBC subsidiary)
Chicago, Illinois
Director – Wireline Operations (1994-1996)

Monitored Ameritech’s European telecom subsidiaries’ performance, and analyzed new business opportunities. Advised boards and senior management on key business issues.

• Developed business plans and valuation models for the investment of over $400 million in the privatization of Matav.
• Led the project creating an international long distance business for Netcom, a Norwegian mobile operator. Received the first call made over that network.
• Led numerous due diligence reviews of acquisition targets, forming the operational basis for valuation models. Post acquisition, insured operational improvement opportunities were implemented in each business and financial targets matching the valuation models were met.
• Monitored Ameritech subsidiaries’ financial and operational performance based on financial value driver framework, and advised senior management on a wide range of operations, financial and strategic business issues.

Ameritech Network Services (now an SBC subsidiary)
Madison, Wisconsin
General Manager (1990-1994)

Network Construction, Installation and Repair
Responsible for a large local access network, with 800 employees serving a market area with 950,000 customer lines and a $40M annual budget. Consistently reduced cost and improved service.

• Led innovative process improvement projects to streamline work and improve customer service.
• Implemented preventive maintenance center for local networks. Consolidated other work centers to reduce cost.
• Reduced management force 40% and non-management force 15%, while maintaining or improving customer service.
• Maintained positive, progressive relationship with labor unions throughout a period of significant organizational change.

• Built and maintained switched voice and data networks, led technical equipment cutovers.
• Managed switching operations and customer support for large business accounts.
• Restructured network surveillance centers.

Wisconsin Bell (Now an SBC subsidiary)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
District Manager – Market and Product Planning (1986-1990)

Led marketing planning organization responsible for pricing, market research, economic forecasting, personal interface to regulators, and coordination of capital budget with network organization. Wisconsin Bell served 2 million customers with $1B in annual revenues.

• Completed over 50 market research and competitive analysis studies annually.
• Developed joint marketing and network planning process to link marketing plans to technology investments, based on an economic investment framework.
• Led successful implementation of a new marketing information and product profitability system.
• Planned and successfully completed a complex project to dramatically restructure local service pricing, eliminating flat rate residential service. Testified before Wisconsin Public Service Commission on pricing policy, econometric forecasts of demand and revenue, market and competitive analysis.

Education

Master of Science (Economics), University of Wisconsin
Bachelor of Science (Economics), Iowa State University