Rural UK Broadband Network Provider Truespeed Appoints New CEO

Alternative broadband provider and UK ISP Truespeed, which is in the process of merging with County Broadband to create a single full fibre operator covering 177,000 premises (RFS) and 41,000 customers (here), has announced that existing CEO James Lowther is to be replaced by the company’s current CCO, Nelson Missier, by the end of this year.

At present Truespeed is mostly focused upon serving rural premises in parts of Devon, Wiltshire, Somerset Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, although in the past year or so they’ve had to deal with the same challenges (i.e. rising build costs, high interest rates and competition) as many other network operators. In response there have been some job cuts, a build slowdown and greater focus on commercialisation (here and here).

The company’s current Chairman, Clarke Osborne, said they were “very fortunate that Nelson Missier, a senior member of the Truespeed Executive team, has the experience, capability and motivation to step seamlessly into the role of CEO“. Meanwhile, James said it would be “an emotional day when I leave Truespeed“, before adding that he will be “delighted to be passing the baton to Nelson“.

Nelson Missier said:

“I would like to thank James for leading us to a strong position with significant customer and financial growth over the last 4 years; he has been pivotal to scaling up Truespeed from a start-up in the Southwest to a fast-growing company with a strong, collaborative culture and best-in-class capabilities. We wish him the very best in his next adventure.

I am excited to lead the business as we continue to deliver truly better broadband to our customers in the Southwest & East of England. With a strong challenger brand, an exceptional product, and a committed team behind me, I look forward to growing Truespeed’s customer base and profitability.”