Landways expands its leadership team with five new hires

• Landways has announced five senior hires: Steve Robertson (Board member), Meri Braziel (Chief Commercial Officer), Ruth Stafford (Chief Financial Officer), Stephen Chivers (Project Director), Avik Datta (Technology Director)
• Their wealth of experience will aid the firm’s expansion into new verticals and markets
• The announcement follows significant investment from Newlight Partners and existing investor Columbia Capital

The UK’s leading provider of integrated in-building digital and power infrastructure, Landways, has today announced the hiring of five senior executives to its leadership team. Steve Robertson joins as its latest non-executive Board member, Meri Braziel as Chief Commercial Officer, Ruth Stafford as Chief Financial Officer, Stephen Chivers as Project Director, and Avik Datta as Technology Director.

Steve Roberston has nearly 40 years’ experience working in telecommunications, technology and infrastructure. He has operated at Board level for more than 25 years, including 14 years as a CEO. His experience includes significant international assignments, including the design, construction and operation of both BTs Global Network and COLT’s pan-European Network. He was also responsible for the operation of BT’s UK Network and was the founding CEO of Openreach, where he successfully established the first example of the groundbreaking market model of functional separation. This was followed by the successful establishment of Truphone as a hi-tech global mobile operator and, later, as CEO of Thames Water.

Steve is a values-driven executive who passionately believes in the power of the team. He has been a champion of diversity and inclusion throughout his career including several years as BT Group’s Diversity Champion.

Meri Braziel brings more than thirty years’ experience in the global telecommunications industry, beginning her career with Sprint International as Finance Manager of EMEA. She has held several managing director and CEO roles of European technology companies including PSINet, Skyware Radio Systems, and Keycom plc. Most recently, Meri was Chief Operations Officer and Chief Commercial Officer at Glide, a specialist internet service provider, between 2017 and 2022. She is also a co-founder of WiTT, the Women in Telecom and Technology networking group, and serves as a Trustee of Unipol Student Housing as well as chairing its IT and Communications committee.

Ruth Stafford is a chartered accountant with more than twenty years’ multi-sector experience, having started off in practice before moving into industry with roles in private equity-backed companies in industries such as travel, healthcare, professional services and SaaS. Within her prior roles as Chief Financial Officer and Financial Director, Ruth has regularly built and restructured finance teams that have helped with cash flow management, as well as successfully implemented governance and compliance programmes, and cross-functional transformation projects.

Ruth will be responsible for ensuring the financial resources of the business are being optimally managed to enhance the performance and innovative ability of the company.

Stephen Chivers boasts more than 40 years’ experience in telecommunications and commercial/project management. During this period, he has held director positions at Cable and Wireless, Kelly Group, Lattice/Thames JV, and Fujitsu Telecommunication, driving strategic growth, competitive positioning, and operational performance. Stephen will lead the company’s delivery of projects in the UK and Europe and will have responsibility for the procurement of suppliers, contractors, and overall health and safety.

Avik Datta has more than 26 years’ experience in the telecoms industry, of which 20 years was spent at Vodafone Group Services. Delivering various engineering, strategy and business development roles, Avik completed his service as Head of Technology for Partner Markets and CTO of Vodafone French Polynesia. Avik then spent six years at Cable & Wireless and their parent, Liberty Latin America LLC, as CTO and Mobile Operations Director for the Caribbean and Latin America region, returning to the UK in 2020.

As Technology Director, Avik is responsible for the production of the innovative technical designs Landways produces to deliver efficient, reliable and high-quality systems for its customers.

Chris Smedley, CEO at Landways, said: “As Landways enters the next stage of its growth plans, we are incredibly excited and extremely grateful to have brought such a wealth of experience to our leadership team. With their extensive knowledge, expansive network, and undeniable passion, we are ready to take our unique ‘Digital and Power Infrastructure-as-a-Service’ model to new heights.”

The announcement follows significant investment from Newlight Partners and existing investor Columbia Capital.