Alternative UK Broadband Network Freedom Fibre Appoints New CEO

Alternative UK broadband network builder Freedom Fibre, which has deployed a 10Gbps capable full fibre (FTTP) network to cover 300,000 premises (27th Mar 2024) and is home to 20,000 customers (12th Aug 2024), has this morning announced the appointment of Nathan Vautier to be their new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The move will see Nathan replace the company’s former CEO and Co-Founder, Neil McArthur, who will instead transition into a strategic role while continuing to serve on the company’s board, ensuring his ongoing involvement in the operator’s future growth and vision.

By comparison, Nathan is said to have over 25 years of industry experience and has held various senior leadership roles in the telecoms sector, starting in infrastructure with Ericsson, then Sony Ericsson, EE (BT), and Brightstar Corporation before moving into PE backed businesses. Nathan was also the previous CEO of Box Broadband, which is now part of CommunityFibre.

Neil McArthur said:

“After nearly 30 years in the telecoms sector it’s time I stepped down from the front line. I want to welcome Nathan Vautier to Freedom Fibre and wish him every success driving the company forward.
My move into telecoms started with deregulation in 1996 at Opal Telecom, which teamed up with Carphone Warehouse to form TalkTalk.

I have had a splendid career at a really interesting time in the industry’s history, and the opportunity to set up Freedom Fibre was too exciting to resist. Being involved at the start of deregulation and broadband, and now being able to step down as fibre reaches well over 50% of the UK has been my good fortune.

It’s time to let someone else take the reins. I look forward to continue working in a reduced capacity with the great team at Freedom Fibre as the company enters its next phase of growth.”

Nathan Vautier said:

“I am honored to be joining Freedom Fibre at such an important stage of its journey. It is an important time in the industry and for the continued development of this critical UK infrastructure and Neil’s vision has laid a strong foundation. I look forward to working with the team to drive continued growth, build on the achievements so far, and enhance the value we deliver to our customers.”

According to the spin, Nathan will focus on growing the business as the company embarks on its next phase of expansion, including “accelerating commercialization of Freedom Fibre’s network by leveraging the company’s existing wholesale partnership with TalkTalk and driving direct sales through its own ISP” (LilaConnect). But aside from the recently awarded Project Gigabit contracts, it appears as if the operator is currently more focused on commercialization than network expansion (a common theme among many altnets).