Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United Kingdom based VP’ operating in the Telecommunications space. If you think a VP’ is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Len Padilla
Vice President Product Strategy of NTT Communications
Len is a highly knowledgeable IT professional with considerable experience in a variety of areas from scientific super-computing to shared and dedicated hosting to selective outsourcing. Len has worked in all technical aspects and management levels of IT: supercomputing and financial systems programing, administration of large server and content delivery networks, PCI-DSS certification, management of international operations teams, product engineering and strategy.
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About NTT Communications: NTT Communications is a provider of network management and security services.
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George Rigby
Vice President of Sales – Managed Cloud & Infrastructure Services (EU) of NTT Communications
George deals primarily with end user IT clients, advising on strategy and consultancy for digital transformation across financial and manufacturing industries. Over the last ten years he has helped companies achieve major gains for their businesses and describes how their aims translate into actions for the industry, focusing on value as part of ROI rather than pure cost calculations.
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About NTT Communications: NTT Communications is a provider of network management and security services.
Lisa Clark
Vice President – Contact Centre PM of 8×8
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About 8×8: 8×8 offers secure and reliable cloud-based, enterprise-class business phone systems, unified communications, and contact center solutions.
Meg Blight
VP Global Scouting (Consumer customer experience and propositions) of BT Global Services
Meg is a global scout in BT’s External Innovation team whose role is to identify and introduce companies with innovative technologies, propositions and business models to BT Consumer – the largest Broadband and Phone provider in the UK. Prior to scouting, Meg spent more than 10 years in the UK telco sector working in product, commercial and strategic roles at BT and other major providers. She has managed product lines with annual revenues over $3bn per annum in more than 9m households in the UK. Meg has an honours degree from Cambridge in Experimental Psychology and Physics.
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About BT Global Services: BT Global Services plc is a division of United Kingdom telecommunications operator BT Group.
Michelle Teufel
Vice President, Digital Technology of Arrow Electronics
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About Arrow Electronics: Arrow Electronics designs, manufactures and distributes electronic components for industrial and commercial sectors.
Andrew Loftus
VP Sales EMEA of BaiCells Technologies
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About BaiCells Technologies: Baicells Technologies provides wireless broadband access solutions.
Maggie Parry
Vice President of Sales, Carrier & Wholesale of Aqua Comms
Maggie is Vice President of Sales, Carrier and Wholesale, responsible for driving revenue growth through this vertical. Maggie joined Aqua Comms in 2015 and has more than three decades of telecommunications experience, including fifteen years in the submarine cable arena. She has worked for companies including ITT WorldCom, Telstra UK, MFS, Level 3 Communications, and Apollo Submarine Cable System Ltd. Prior to her role at Aqua Comms, Maggie spent eight years as a Sales Director at Hibernia Atlantic. She has a B.A. in International Relations and Affairs from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and is based in Bromley, UK.
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About Aqua Comms: Aqua Comms provides capacity networking solutions to content providers, cloud based networks, data centres, IT companies & the global media.
Phil Holcombe
VP API Support of Vonage
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About Vonage: Vonage is a provider of cloud-based communications to businesses and consumers.
Alan Flower
Senior Vice President – CTO EMEA & Global Head, Cloud Native Labs of HCL Technologies
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About HCL Technologies: HCL Technologies is a global IT services company, working with clients in the areas that impact and redefine the core of their businesses.
Joe Marsella
Vice President PLM – Routing & Switching Portfolio of Ciena
Joe Marsella works as EMEA CTO at Ciena Corporation. With more than 20 years of experience in the software and telecoms industry, Marsella has expertise in both packet and optical networking, including detailed knowledge on SDN, NFV, photonics, dense wavelength division multiplexing, optical transport networks, Carrier Ethernet and control planes. Prior to this new role, Marsella served in several capacities within Ciena; most recently as the senior director of Product Line Management, responsible for the software strategy of Ciena’s Agility software portfolio, now part of Ciena Blue Planet. He also held leadership positions in Ciena’s product line management and R&D organisations, providing expertise and direction in key vertical markets and product portfolios. He worked as Principal Member Technical Staff and Engineer at Siemens Stromberg Carlson.
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About Ciena: Ciena collaborates with customers to unlock the strategic potential of their networks and and change the way they perform and compete.
Jean Philippe Gillet
SVP, Global Sales & GM Networks of Intelsat
Jean-Philippe Gillet is a SVP Sales & GM Networks BU at Intelsat.
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About Intelsat: Intelsat operates a globalized network that delivers high-quality, cost-effective video and broadband services anywhere in the world.
Jack Buechler
VP Business Development and Product Management of Talia
Jack Buechler is the Vice President of Business Development at Talia Ltd. He has over 25 years of sales and marketing experience in IT and telecommunications – making Mr. Buechler one of the industry’s leading experts. Past and current projects include definitions of satellite hub systems, integration of broadband satellite systems, terrestrial fibre services, VoIP service integration, Trunk VoIP systems, sales of integrated GSM satellite systems. Mr. Buechler has worked in many business sectors including Defence, Oil and Gas, Retail and Financial.Mr Buechler’s current position is at Talia Ltd – a top-tier network provider in the Middle East, Africa, America and Europe. Talia Ltd known as a market leader and experts in satellite, voice, video and broadcast solutions with their own WTA tier 3 certified teleport facility in Germany. Prior to working at Talia Ltd, Mr. Buechler has served at senior level positions at Loral Cyberstar, Orion Network Systems and Kingston Inmedia (Now Arqiva), and Advantech Wireless including: Vice President Sales EMEA, Head of Carrier and Internet Sales and product manager Satellite data products at BT.
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About Talia: Talia is a top-tier provider of Internet, voice, and video services
James Robinson
VP Research and Innovation of Opensignal
As the leader of OpenSignal’s mobile engineering team, James has led the development and adoption of multiple OpenSignal mobile apps, which have been downloaded on over 20 million consumer devices (and counting) around the world. He also focuses on pioneering next generation technologies to fuel company growth. James is an OpenSignal co-founder and holds a Physics & Philosophy degree from Oxford University.
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About Opensignal: Opensignal is a mobile analytics company.
Mohsen Mohseninia
VP of Market Development, Europe of Aeris
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About Aeris, Aeris: Aeris is the only cellular network designed and built exclusively for machines.
Zankar Sevak
Co-Founder and Vice President of Sensewhere
Zankar Sevak serves as Vice President of Engineering at sensewhere Limited. Zankar Sevak is responsible for designing and developing the main GNSS application and support software for GNSS devices. He is the Principle Inventor of sensewhere proprietary Assisted GNSS technology and has worked at sensewhere for three years.
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About Sensewhere: Sensewhere provide hyper-local indoor positioning technology and applications for mobile devices.
Vladimir Mitrasinovic
EVP Channels and Alliances of Acision
Vladimir Mitrasinovic is the executive vice president of global channels and alliances at [Xura](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/xura#/entity), a company that offers digital communication services. He was previously an SVP at TOA Technologies. Mitrasinovic also worked as a VP at Acision and MetraTech. Mitrasinovic holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Belgrade University and a master’s degree from De Montfort University.
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About Acision: Acision is a mobile communications network infrastructure company specializing in messaging and charging systems.
Teemu Sorvisto
Senior Vice President – EMEA of JUNO TELE
Teemu brings over 15 years of professional experience in Business Development, Sales and Marketing from Mobile, Apps, Information Technology and Software businesses across markets globally. He has been in leadership positions in multinational mobile and cloud solutions companies such as Nokia, BlackBerry and F-Secure, being responsible for business development, partnerships and operator channel sales in mobile application ecosystem and VAS divisions. Teemu has a thorough understanding of various mobile solutions, related technologies and modern business models. He comes with a broad experience in leading and developing business across regions in EMEA, Asia Pacific, Latin America and North America, while he has been living in the UK, Singapore and Finland.
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About JUNO TELE: JunoTele is a mobile payments technology company.
Craig Vallis
VP Enterprise of My Voice
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About My Voice: My Voice is a Norwegian voice tech company.
Craig Vallis
VP Enterprise of My Voice
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About My Voice: My Voice is a Norwegian voice tech company.
Neil Stevens
VP, GM Products & Marketing of Skype
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About Skype: Skype provides a telecommunications platform that offers free video chat and voice calls to internet-connected devices.
Peter Agnew
Product Manager MPLS VPNs and SD WAN of Gamma
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About Gamma: Gamma is a leading supplier of voice, data and mobile products and services in the UK.
Barry Dahan
Executive Vice President, Global Sales of DragonWave
Barry Dahan is the Executive Vice President of Global Sales at DragonWave. Barry has 30 years’ experience in the International Telecom industry in various roles. Prior to joining DragonWave in 2011, Barry was tasked with building the business and infrastructure for Starent Networks. Barry was employed with ALU and Nortel in various Executive / Leadership roles. Since 2010 Barry is investing in private growth companies. Barry holds a Business Degree in Finance as well as a Bachelor in Engineering from Polytechnique in Canada.
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About DragonWave: DragonWave Inc. (DragonWave) is a provider of high-capacity Ethernet microwave solutions for Internet protocol (IP) networks. Its
Steve Clarke
CTO and SVP Engineering (IoT) of Wyld Networks AB
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About Wyld Networks AB: Wyld Networks enables affordable low power IoT connectivity through LEO satellites.
Eran Gonen
VP Sales Africa of Airspan Networks
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About Airspan Networks: Airspan Networks provides 4G broadband wireless systems and solutions that deliver high-speed data, voice, and multimedia services.
Justin Kearney
Vice President of Human Resources of Logicalis
Justin Kearney joined Logicalis Group in August 2013 as Vice President of Human Resources with responsibility for providing people management leadership within Logicalis Group. Prior to this, Justin was the HR Director for the Corporate function leaders at Invensys, the engineering and technology business. He has also held international HR business partner roles within the aviation and financial service industries with General Electric, and in retail, with Sainsburys in the UK. Justin has an honours degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Leisure Management, as well as being a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management.
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About Logicalis: Logicalis is a platform that provides IT solutions and managed services.
Joanne Nelson
Vice President of International Marketing of Logicalis
Joanne Nelson was appointed to Vice President of Marketing in August 2004, to head up the UK marketing department, and in addition, take responsibility for the corporate marketing function of the Logicalis Group. In January 2008, she became VP International Marketing with responsibility for corporate strategy, branding and analyst relations across the organisation. Joanne brings over fifteen years of ICT marketing experience to her role having previously worked at Ericsson Enterprise, and then its spinoff, Damovo, where she was VP Marketing & Communications, across the Group. She had sole responsibility for re-branding the multi-million dollar global Communications Provider (then ranked 36th top global brand, Interbrand, Citigroup, August 2001) and managing the global corporate marketing function across 20 markets worldwide. Joanne has first-hand international experience, having studied at the Institut Universitaire de Technologie (IUT), Nice, Côte d’Azur, France, and at Haarlem Business School, in The Netherlands, and worked in Antibes, South of France.
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About Logicalis: Logicalis is a platform that provides IT solutions and managed services.
John Shearing
EVP, Group Solutions and Security of Interoute Communications
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About Interoute Communications: Interoute is an international telecommunications service provider and the owner operator of Europe’s largest cloud services platform
Tom Luke
VP Sales, Marketing and Alliances of Tutela
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About Tutela: Tutela crowd-sources mobile usage and experience data from millions of mobile devices every day to provide insight to the mobile industry
John Lewis
VP Product Management, Marketing and Partners, and CSO of Telensa
Jon has over 20 years’ experience in leadership and innovation roles at global technology companies including NEC, Toshiba and Motorola. These roles have covered fundamental research, product development and sales. Jon joined Telensa to broaden the company’s application portfolio and open new market segments. He holds a number of patents and has a PhD in engineering.
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About Telensa: Telensa makes wireless smart city control systems, including the worlds most deployed smart streetlight solution.
Simeon Coney
Senior Vice President, Security Practice of AdaptiveMobile
Prior to joining AdaptiveMobile in 2006, Simeon established a management consultancy business, undertaking portfolio and business restructuring for US and European VC portfolio companies. Building the company at AdaptiveMobile since formation, Simeon now works closely with Service Providers on the protection of their subscribers and network. Simeon has over 20 years’ experience within the mobile, fixed line and IT infrastructure markets, providing strategic guidance and operational execution to European & US companies. With a career spanning Marketing, Product Management, Business Development and Operations, Simeon has brought award winning products to market in Europe and the US, created high growth business units for Infrastructure suppliers and built Service Provider networks across the globe. He has worked with leading operator groups and networks including Vodafone, T-Mobile, SITA, BT, USAF, Cable & Wireless and Bharti Airtel whilst establishing new technology companies in the UK & US, and with key accounts teams at Nortel and Ericsson.
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About AdaptiveMobile: AdaptiveMobile operates as a mobile security provider for enterprises and individuals.
Simeon Coney
Senior Vice President, Security Practice of AdaptiveMobile
Prior to joining AdaptiveMobile in 2006, Simeon established a management consultancy business, undertaking portfolio and business restructuring for US and European VC portfolio companies. Building the company at AdaptiveMobile since formation, Simeon now works closely with Service Providers on the protection of their subscribers and network. Simeon has over 20 years’ experience within the mobile, fixed line and IT infrastructure markets, providing strategic guidance and operational execution to European & US companies. With a career spanning Marketing, Product Management, Business Development and Operations, Simeon has brought award winning products to market in Europe and the US, created high growth business units for Infrastructure suppliers and built Service Provider networks across the globe. He has worked with leading operator groups and networks including Vodafone, T-Mobile, SITA, BT, USAF, Cable & Wireless and Bharti Airtel whilst establishing new technology companies in the UK & US, and with key accounts teams at Nortel and Ericsson.
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About AdaptiveMobile: AdaptiveMobile operates as a mobile security provider for enterprises and individuals.
Ravindran Mahalingam
Regional VP of Hutchison Global Communications
Ravindran Mahalingam is the Vice President – EMEA Region of Hutchison Global Communications Limited (“HGC”). A key management team member in the International Business Division of HGC, Mr. Mahalingam is responsible for the global business development and strategic planning for HGC’s international carrier business in Europe, Middle East and Africa with its regional office in London. Additionally, he has been leading the evolution of IP interconnection models and strategy for the region with a particular focus in IPX and OTT service.Mr. Mahalingam possesses over 15 years of experience in the international telecommunications industry. Prior to joining HGC in 2002, Mr. Mahalingam oversaw the data and voice business in Teleglobe in Malaysia.
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About Hutchison Global Communications: Hutchison Global Communications is a fixed-line service provider to fixed and mobile carriers.
Richard Newton
co-founder + VP marketing of Clarify
Co-founder of OP3Nvoice. VP Marketing.
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About Clarify, Screendragon: The world has moved beyond text. Our platform makes searching AV files simple for developers to integrate into their applications.
Gerry O’Keeffe
EVP – EMEA / APAC of Likewize
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About Likewize: Likewize offers comprehensive protection against any technology disruption.
Phil Harvey
Vice President, Partner Management – Aviation of Inmarsat Government
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About Inmarsat Government, Sporting Mouth: Inmarsat Government is a Telecommunications Company.
Paul Bassa
EVP Mobile Cloud of Digitalk
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About Digitalk: Digitalk is an agile, experienced provider of innovative, cloud-based real-time communications platform-as-a-service solutions.
