Justin had previously been a main driving force behind internet service provider Easynet, the first telecommunication company to implement Local Loop Unbundling (LLU). Easynet was sold to BSkyB in 2005, and the network still forms the backbone of Sky’s residential broadband service.
“I see a lot of Easynet in Zen,” says Justin. “Easynet was operating at a larger scale but this company has all the pieces in place, and has just doubled its LLU footprint. There are big gaps in the market and major opportunities for Zen, so it’s an exciting time to join the business.”
He adds that Zen has “huge latent capability” and believes that one of his major functions will be to get the best out of a talented workforce.
“It’s my job to unleash the cleverness and capability of the people we already have at Zen. Even at this early stage I can confidently say that I have inherited a highly skilled, knowledgeable, capable team which I aim to inspire and support. I always encourage openness and collaboration and believe that is the best way to drive the business forward.”
Justin also points to recent investments that have given Zen the largest independent LLU network in the UK and one of the most advanced core and edge networks in Europe.
“Zen is an amazing success story and I think my experience of growing a similar business at Easynet can help the company fulfil its ambitions. We can swiftly automate everyday back-end processes, freeing up technical staff to focus on long-term projects for the benefit of the business.”
He will also work with chief executive officer Richard Tang and the senior management team to build a series of strategic plans to drive Zen’s continuing evolution.
Richard Tang believes Justin’s appointment is a big step forward for Zen. He says: “There are very few CTOs in our industry with Justin’s level of experience. We are very fortunate to have him on board. He is already adding significant value to Zen, and will play a critical role in delivering our ambitious future plans.”