Broadband and Phone Provider KCOM Bids Farewell to CEO Tim Shaw

Hull-based UK network operator KCOM, which has deployed their own Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network across a big chunk of East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire (England), has announced that current Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tim Shaw, is to step down. The outgoing CEO will hand over the reins to CFO Richard Schäfer on an interim basis.

Tim has been with the Macquarie-backed business for six and a half years, albeit only three years as its CEO. During that time he’s witnessed the continued expansion of their FTTP network, as well as the ongoing migration and retirement of their old copper line network. On the flip side, he’s also seen KCOM’s grip on its core market of Hull being eroded by rivals, such as Connexin (CityFibre) and MS3, and the operator has recently been nudged to embrace infrastructure sharing (here).

The announcement itself doesn’t say why Tim has chosen to leave, although we understand that he’ll be announcing his next move in due course (i.e. it sounds like he’ll be taking up a new role elsewhere). KCOM is clearly facing some challenges, not least from Ofcom’s forthcoming market review and its weakening hold over local infrastructure, thus the company might benefit from a fresh pair of hands and a new vision for the business.

Richard Greenleaf, Chair of KCOM, said:

“Our huge thanks go to Tim. He has led KCOM through a period of significant change, both for the business and in the wider UK telco market; throughout this, he has always kept the customer and service innovation at the heart of what we do. We wish him the very best for his next chapter.”

Tim Shaw, CEO of KCOM, said:

“Over the past four years, KCOM has been through some remarkable change. I’m immensely proud of the way the team has focused relentlessly on customer experience, embraced innovation and taken connectivity to even more homes in the region. KCOM is an iconic brand, and leading the business through its 120th anniversary last year was one of the great privileges of my role.”

A recruitment process for a permanent appointment is currently underway, led by the Board.