The Team

With his background in telecoms R&D, start-up, operations, strategy, JV and mergers, Emin now practises as a non-exec and as an advisor specialising in network strategy and operations, business development, network sharing and partnerships. Emin is the Chairman of Azenby, he serves as an independent director on two telco boards and he also advises PE firms and technology start-up companies. His early years in radio communication R&D were with British Telecom. He was part of the launch and growth of UK mobile operator one2one in the 90s. The last ten years of his corporate career were in executive roles within Deutsche Telekom’s T-Mobile business in Europe, the latest as VP of Network Services in EE.

Emin’s Highlights:

• Strategic advice and facilitation for clients on MOUs/JVs
• Support to a European MNO on spectrum strategy in an auction
• Advising a European MNO in the revision and relaunch of its network strategy
• Technical due diligence for a PE firm involved in mobile operator acquisition
• Creation of the Network Sharing JV between T-Mobile and Three
• Launch of the World’s first 1800 MHz GSM radio network (one2one)
• Driving Europe-wide synergies in T-Mobile’s One-Company programme

Bill is a veteran of the global mobile industry – before analogue first generation systems were launched in the early ’80s. He is a former CTO at the GSM Association, & one2one (now T-Mobile UK/EE/BT). With previous experience in NXD roles and working for VCs, Bill brings a wealth of strategic, commercial and technical knowledge to Azenby. At Azenby, Bill has been instrumental in helping MNOs with their transformation programmes; smaller vendors enter into new markets and the GSMA develop their awards programme and CTO judging panel for the best-in-class category at Mobile World Congress. He has also recently worked with a Footsie 100 company to help them enter the mobile market as an MNVO.

Bill’s Highlights:

• Lead engineering consultants from conception to launch in a major MVNO market entry
• Transformation programmes to radically improve operational excellence
• Technical due diligence of large network operators for investors and acquirers
• Drove mobile industry defining programmes such as Integrated messaging, iPx and data roaming whilst at the GSMA
• Architect of first major MNO tower deal in Europe
• Managed first major greenfield vendor design and build roll-out programme

Charles Brookson, OBE, has over 30 years’ experience in security, preventing compromise, fraud, and theft of resources and is a regular keynote speaker who has worked with Industry and Governments at all levels. He has been Chairman at GSM Association Security Group for the past 25 years. He is also Chair of the ETSI OCG Security Group and various Government Panels. Formerly, he was Director of Standards & Technology at Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Head of Corporate Security at one2one and in BT Corporate Security.

Career Highlights:

• Started and lead the GSMA Security Group who have been informing over 800 mobile operators worldwide for the past 25 years
• Lead the group that developed GSM Security Algorithms and protocols which have been used for over 30 years
• Lead initiatives that have saved operators millions of pounds by preventing fraud and theft

David has worked in Telecoms since 1982 and mobile since 1991. He has extensive knowledge and practical experience of network strategy, design, planning and operations. At Azenby he has been helping clients with network sharing, network mergers, cost evaluation and their new MVNO launch. He held corporate technology leadership roles for One2One/T-mobile/EE in the UK and Deutsche Telecom across Europe. He specialises in network transformation both technically and commercially and has worked on a significant number of network sharing and consolidation projects.

Dave’s Highlights:

• Founding member of an innovative virtualised 4G core network service launched 2015
• Technical lead on a number of large network and infrastructure sharing initiatives in Asia and Africa
• Led the T-Mobile technical team for the integration with Orange
• Led the modernisation of the T-Mobile core network leading to the lowest unit cost and best performance in the UK

Paul is a commercial specialist. He is an experienced negotiator, strategist and deal creator with a reputation both for mastery of the details and clarity of the big picture. At Azenby, he has been particularly active in the MVNO market, supporting various clients on different sides of the market, either MNOs or MVNOs. This work has included rates and terms for domestic access via either national roaming or more classic light-MVNO structures. He has also advised clients on international roaming with particular focus on multi-IMSI solutions and European Roaming Regulations.

Paul’s Highlights:

• Commercial support to all aspects and phases of the launch of a major MVNO
• Commercial, technical and project support to a specialist sim-hire company based in India
• Advising and supporting a European MNO in relation to protracted MVNO negotiations
• Led the MVNO negotiations with Virgin Mobile on behalf of T-Mobile UK

Phil is a technology specialist with 25 years’ experience running development teams and delivering new products into the mobile market. At Azenby Phil has worked with numerous clients advising on the core network and evolution of technology – how it can be deployed in support of innovative product developments particularly in the MVNO markets. He has also advised clients on the impact that emerging technology will have over the next few years on their current and planned businesses.

Phil’s Highlights:

• Strategic advice to and facilitation between clients on MOUs/JVs
• Support to a European MNO on spectrum strategy in an auction
• Technical due diligence for a PE firm involved in mobile operator acquisition
• Design, delivery & launch of the first mass consumer prepay systems and first deployment of MMS in Europe

Tim has over 20 years’ experience in mobile networks, having held senior management roles in design, test & validation, rollout, planning & delivery of the Radio Access Network. As an Azenby Director he provides senior level technical expertise in areas such as outsourcing, technical due diligence, network sharing & mergers, technical procurement and network rollout, planning & design.

Tim’s Highlights:

• Technical advice & leadership on international group wide radio equipment tenders
• Technical guidance to a major new UK MVNO in support of their SIM procurement
• Interim national radio planning manager for a major UK infrastructure provider
• Orange Network lead for the T-Mobile / Orange UK merger

Richard has worked widely across the telecoms and technology sectors in UK, Europe and the Middle East. He has 20+ years experience in international sales, commercial management and procurement. Richard led multinational teams delivering major programme roll-outs to the world’s leading blue-chip telecom operators.

Career Highlights:

• Driving sales, commercial & business strategies at board level
• Managing Director of a technology start-up to its first $1 million
• Delivery of more than 15 major country-wide networks

Martin is a passionate technologist having spent over 30 years in telecommunications and wireless networks. Originally from the UK, he has spent 20 years in the USA. He has created many startup networks and developed numerous products that have delivered a great deal of value to customers.

Career Highlights:

• Built the business Wireless Solutions International Inc. (acquired by Syniverse)
• Architected and built numerous GSM Networks in USA
• Built the first global roaming hub generating $M’s in revenue for clients

With over twenty-five years’ experience, David has worked on legal issues across the telecoms space with operators, OEMs, software developers and content providers.

David’s Highlights:

• Worked with Charitable Foundations and co-founded successful start-ups in emerging markets
• Provides tailored legal and regulatory advice across commercial contracts, antitrust, and IP law

Steve is a product leader with over 25 years’ experience, including 20 years’ managing development teams. This enables him to identify new propositions & customer needs whilst navigating the technical and commercial challenges to deliver the right solutions. His broad expertise includes core & radio networks, cloud, BSS, OSS and VAS platforms such as messaging, as well as roaming, fraud and security. The breadth of his experience allows him to work at all levels of an organisation – from technical discussions to communications with the board.

Chris has been writing software since the age of eight and been working with mobile and devices for more than twenty years, including twelve years at EE.

He has backend, SIM and mobile device expertise with a collection of development skills including Java, Go and C languages, MySQL and Cassandra databases, and platforms including Spring Boot, Linux, Android and containerization using Docker.

Chris also has a wealth of experience developing software in support of security requirements. This includes the development of custom firmware for SafeNet HSMs that is now being used for compliance with the UK’s Telecom Security Act requirements.

Chris’s Highlights:

• Indoor Plus, an indoor coverage collection app that harnessed Tango, Google’s AR environment. Demonstrated at an annual police conference in the context of crime scene investigations
• SIM credentials and PKI certificate management for BT. Implemented with PKCS#11 and custom firmware on SafeNet HSMs as well as adapting HashiCorp’s Vault for hardware secured PKI
• RadioAgent Railways, initially using Blackberry devices and then Android to measure coverage autonomously on trains
• Writing provisioning software to generate the first SIMs for the go-live of EE’s 4G network when the decision was made to go live in 1800Mhz ASAP
• Apps including touchticker and pulsepaper on Symbian and Android
• Developing the backend for MTV’s VideoClash in 2001, the first ever live TV show based on SMS voting

Richard has over 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry having held a variety of positions from Software Engineer to Technical Director. During his career Richard has focused on developing his end-to-end knowledge of networks from radio access design, through core networks to the deployment of applications. This knowledge has been developed through working with large and small network operators (3UK and UK Broadband) as well as equipment vendors (Ericsson and Huawei). During the last 3 years, Richard was working as a Solution Architect with Boldyn Networks, focusing on solutions for private networks and smart cities as well as leading customer technical pre-sales engagements.

Career Highlights:

• Led large cross functional teams through VoLTE and 5G FWA network deployments
• Managed large teams of technical experts
• Build lasting working relationships with stakeholders
• Manage cost centre budgets up to £50m
• Led technical RFP responses for tenders worth up to £20m

Anil has over 30 years’ experience in the telecoms industry driving strategy, architecture, planning, design and implementation of mobile networks. He offers a unique insight with experience of the full life cycle of a mobile network operator from inception through to merger.

As a founding member of Three UK, he provided cross functional/organisational leadership during key pivotal moments and technological advances in the UK market.

Anil possesses comprehensive knowledge and proven capability across all aspects of network strategy, architecture, and delivery, with hands-on involvement from inception to merger.

Recognised for the ability to simplify complex technical and business matters, providing clear recommendations to C-level stakeholders. Anil demonstrates strong commercial and technical acumen, evidenced by successful negotiations with government bodies, competitor mobile network operators, and suppliers.

Career Highlights:

• Network Strategy and Architecture: In role as Chief Network Architect, delivered network roadmap, budgeting and prioritisation for Three UK
• Network Design, Capacity and Performance Management: Delivered transformation of Three’s radio and access transport networks including 3G delivery, 3G to 4G and 5G transformation
• Network Procurement: Lead for several network procurements of up to £500m contract value – arrangements included both equipment and services
• Network Share and Mergers: VMO2 attempted acquisition, Vodafone Three merger Organisational Capability Assessment and Development: Transformation of organisation through outsourcing and insourcing

Simon is a hands-on technology leader with over 20 years’ experience building and scaling telco software businesses. His expertise spans IoT connectivity management, eSIM/eUICC, wholesale roaming, and BSS/OSS platforms.

Most recently as Managing Director of Nextgen SIMplify, Simon built an API-first IoT connectivity platform for mobile operators, assembling a 35-person distributed team and securing anchor Tier-1 MNO contracts.

He brings deep domain knowledge combined with commercial acumen — comfortable in the boardroom, the customer workshop, and the technical architecture review.

Bob has over twenty years’ experience in the introduction of new mobile technologies and services. Experienced in System’s Integration and Implementation Planning and Delivery, having worked for BT, one2one, T-Mobile and in international roles with Deutsche Telekom. Bob has been in the thick of both getting new ‘stuff’ integrated, into service and managing the organisational evolution around those changes. He is a respected ‘people’ manager with a passion for coaching and employee engagement.

Career Highlights:

• Established and led the programme to integrate the T-Mobile and Orange networks delivering significant synergy savings from the merger.
• Led the end to end Service Integration for all new mobile technologies including IN, VAS and Mobile Broadband.
• Created a new international function to establish best practice for new technology and service introduction across T-Mobile group.
• Founding member of the T-Mobile coaching network.

Jeremy is a proven expert and passionate leader in the design and delivery of mobile infrastructure and radio access networks. Success in a number of Director roles, across several mobile network roll-out and consolidation initiatives and organisations over 20 years, has enabled him to gain extensive, hands-on insight into all aspects of the strategy, design, delivery and operational life cycle of mobile network infrastructure. In his recent assignments, Jeremy has worked as part of a TMT advisory team with mobile operators on the ground in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Australia to provide technical input into business cases and commercial agreements that support infrastructure monetisation and network consolidation initiatives.

Career Highlights:

• Providing technical guidance, and delivering implementation, testing and acceptance of Short Messaging and Cell Broadcast systems with numerous mobile operators across Europe.
• Part of the leadership team charged with the establishment of a nationwide network roll-out organisation to deliver the UK’s first UMTS network for Three.
• Part of the leadership team that established a joint venture company, Mobile Broadband Network Ltd., between Three and T-Mobile (UK) and then executed a highly successful consolidation, active network share and expansion of the UMTS networks of both operators
• Led a high profile, UK Government funded project to deliver new coverage in rural areas.
• Provided strategic advice on Radio Network Consolidation to Three (UK) as part of their bid to acquire Telefonica UK Ltd. Subsequent retention at Three to advise on the development of an alternative technical strategy to provide increased scale and competitiveness to their radio network and then played a leading role in the procurement of the technology and managed services required to deliver on the strategy.

Peter is a highly experienced Mobile Network Operations leader with a proven track record in transforming organisations and improving services and network performance. A radio engineer by trade, Peter spent his early years in Cable & Wireless before transferring to a then mobile start up, one2one, now part of BT owned EE. Peter developed and led first and second generation Managed Service Agreements, the last one employing on-shore and off-shore support involving a thousand people. Peter has managed leading Continuous Service Improvement teams that have enhanced processes, tools and people, having a positive impact on the customer experience and business financial performance . Peter has board level experience and recently left EE to start a new career consulting.

Career Highlights:

• Leading the operation of one of the largest network shares in the world, having been accountable for the operational development at the start of the agreement (T-Mobile and 3 UK).
• Launching the first 4G network in the UK, accountable for all aspects of the operation
• Leading Field Operations across Europe, and a member of the operational leadership team (Deutsche Telecom)
• Establishing the NOC and launching the world’s first 1800MHz 2G service (one2one).

Dr Adriana Nugter has been in wireless communications for more than twenty years, mainly at international levels. She held various operational and strategic roles within mobile operators (KPN, ATI, Vodafone) and within the GSM Association (GSMA) and Global Certification Forum (GCF). Her expertise is wide-ranging and includes data protection, public affairs, regulation, marketing, interoperability, certification, standardization, m2m, business strategy. She is known for her strategic leadership and ability to build alliances between various industry partners.

Career Highlights:

• She ensured the implementation of new services at KPN in line with the Dutch data protection regulation and chaired the – at that time – Data Privacy Group of the GSMA.
• She was nominated and elected chairman of the GSMA, with a particular focus to ensure one standard for the emerging 3G access technology.
• Whilst at Vodafone (and later directly for GCF) she played a pivotal role in the establishment, build-out and success of the Global Certification Forum, an industry led certification program to ensure interoperability of mobile devices with the network.

With over 30 years’ experience of executive and technical leadership in IT, John has a proven track record in the creation of IT strategies both within large multi-nationals and embryonic start-ups. He has over 15 years’ experience of Board-level CIO leadership in telecoms (MediaOne, one2one, Etisalat Nigeria).

John is also an Adjunct professor at Ferris State University undergraduate courses in International Business and Business Strategy. John began working in mobile back in 1986 at USWEST Cellular. He then took on a series of executive roles at MediaOne International and one2one (now part of EE UK). Recently he did a 3-year stint at Etisalat Nigeria, as CIO. Having worked in over 30 countries, he’s is very comfortable working in cross-cultural settings.

Career Highlights:

• Developed accelerated ‘concept-to-market’ processes for rapid delivery of mobile telecoms products and services, including state-of-the-art BI/analytics platform for customer insight and channel management at Etisalat Nigeria.
• Consistent delivery of capex/opex commitments to shareholders, often in excess of $100m per year. Oversaw design of new data centres and major infrastructure overhauls, including call centres at Etisalat (Nigeria), Hagerty and USWEST Cellular (USA)
• Responsible for delivering rapid SW release cycles using Enterprise Product Catalogue (Amdocs) tools in a dev/ops delivery methodology.
• Implementation of $75m transformational Customer Care/Billing Project (Amdocs) at one2one Developed IT ‘go to market’ and support plans for 17 MediaOne International ventures in Europe and Asia, based on standardised OSS/BSS and tailored in-country support.
• As a consultant, performed numerous ‘due diligence’ evaluations in support of private equity investors.
• While at Intelligent Energy, designed and implemented asset management tools to monitor mobile phone towerco power assets in India, utilising MS Azure cloud tools.
• Adjunct professor at Ferris State University undergraduate courses in International Business and Business Strategy

Ron Weintraub specializes in dramatically improving the IT functions of telecom operators. He has over 20 years of experience assessing & transforming the capabilities, business alignment, strategy, enterprise architecture, infrastructure & operational models of IT units at mobile & wireline operators. He advises telecom operators, as well as system integrators, IT & network equipment vendors on IT & TMF best practices, technology, system acquisition, alliances, & M&A.

Career Highlights:

• The “turn-around” CIO at Polkomtel and Etisalat Nigeria
• He has led numerous successful BSS/OSS/ERP/BI business transformation, IT transformation & data centre optimization programs for operators throughout EMEA including Wind, Slovak Telecom, Croatia Telecom, Macedonia Telecom, Bulgarian Telecom, Turk Telecom, Etisalat, Polkomtel & E-Plus
• A TMF speaker & judge as well as a Mobile World Congress Global Mobile Awards judge