George Kontopoulos Email & Phone Number

Athens, Attiki, Greece

Athens, Attiki, Greece

As Softwarized Networks Director, reporting to CEO, I have been responsible for directing telecoms domain, leading multiple R&D projects and industry engagements relating to 5G Mobile Technology, Defense Communications, Smart Power Grids, SDN / NFV and advanced cloud infrastructure solutions. I have created commercial exploitation plans for state-of-the-art / new technologies within LTE-5G non-public networks for multiple vertical industries and secure communications. I have led and collaborated with multi-stakeholder consortiums, spanning several countries and industries. Key achievements include: ◼ Operated as Package Leader for EU funded R&D project, developing affordable 5G network offering. ◼ Won research proposal, focusing on end-to-end encryption to secure 5G-LTE communications.◼ Conceptualized 7 5G technology enhancements that were identified as high potential innovations by Innovation Radar within the EC.

Doha, Qatar

I was deployed as Project Director for LTE-5G MοD program, reporting to CEO and Commander Signal Corps within Qatar MοD, procuring, planning and deploying advanced nationwide wireless network with mission-critical capabilities, while recruiting / leading team of 5 experienced consultants. I was responsible for ensuring stakeholder commitment while managing expectation and required to innovate technology strategy while managing overall delivery against approved roadmap. Key achievements include: ◼ Led network and IT requirements definition, concept of operations and network planning.◼ Developed technology strategy and roadmap for 5G and IoT of greenfield Public Safety LTE network.◼ Navigated complicated military procurement guidelines to produce workable efficient vendor contract, delivering 30% savings.

Lausanne, Switzerland

As Project Director, reporting to CEO, I was responsible for directing ICT engagements for international technology consulting firm, delivering business and technology strategy for Airports, Stadiums, Telecom Operators, Real Estate and Infrastructure clients. Key achievements include:◼ Leveraged local and remote teams, focusing on driving revenue for both business and customers.◼ Developed TETRA / LTE technology and business strategy for private mobile network requirements.◼ Won Best ICT Consultant in 2014 from Aéroports de Paris.

As Head of Product for developer tools start-up, reporting to Partners, I was responsible for creating cross-platform framework tools and cutting-edge analytics for Smart TV and Set-Top box app development. Key achievements include: ◼ Architected SDK for developers to create apps utilizing single HTML / CSS / JavaScript code base, significantly reducing development efforts while gaining exposure in multiple Smart TV platforms.◼ Drove roadmap, feature definition and created specs for an SDK enabling cross-platform app development, analytics & notifications for Smart TVs & STBs.◼ Drove system functionality and created specs for Engineering team to balance business requirements while maintaining low overheads.

As Project Director Cooperative R&D Projects, reporting to MD, I was responsible for Theta Microelectronics in Palo Alto CA, innovating RF chip designs for mobile and fixed wireless broadband data application. I was required to lead R&D projects for Greek design office, coordinating Consortium of private sector clients. Key achievements include: ◼ Led EU funded cooperative R&D project valued €5.2m that reduced 4G backhauling costs.◼ Led R&D project, integrating 6-40GHz software programmable transceiver on 1*130nm BiCMOS chip.

As Key account Manager, reporting to Regional Manager, I was responsible for managing product portfolio while ensuring profitable business growth and cultivating key relationships across Deutsche Telekom Group in Greece, Bulgaria and Romania / OTE & Cosmote Group.Key achievements include:◼ Exceeded sales quotas and enhanced tie-in, winning 3 new contracts valued €5m.◼ Orchestrated technology strategy for various network transformation proposals including National FTTx, IPTV, Single RAN, LTE, mHealth, Network Sharing and Managed Services.

As Director of Network and Service Management, I was responsible for developing service management strategy of WIND Hellas, enhancing service fulfilment and assurance systems while improving end-to-end quality of service management.Key achievements include: ◼ Conceptualized numerous group-wide synergies for common infrastructure / OSS, Network Inventory. ◼ Pioneered best-practices that enabled unified KPI reporting and business process improvements.◼ Achieved €2m cost reduction, introducing common mobile and fixed network fault and performance management that enabled true multi-domain service management.

As Network Technical Director, reporting to CEO, I was responsible for recruiting then leading team of +50 Engineers and Managers, directing network engineering, nationwide deployment and operation of fixed and mobile telecoms operator from scratch to 1.4m subscribers and then successful sale valued €350m.Developed the technology strategy, launching a full portfolio of consumer & enterprise services & innovation, surpassing 10% market share in just 4 years, reaching €190M annual revenue.Key achievements include:◼ Managed nationwide wireless network deployment and optimization.◼ Directed base station swap project (Ericsson to Huawei) and large-scale field trial of WiMAX access network.◼ Ensured seamless services operation during Athens 2004 Olympic Games, focusing on athletic venue coverage, voice and data network dimensioning and expansion, lawful intercept and network security.

As Central Planning and Coordination Manager, reporting to COO, I was responsible for aiding COO with strategy translation and implementation, technology governance, Network initiative development, resource utilization and evaluation of investment spending. Key achievements include:◼ Developed high-level marketing and operations annual plans and evaluated investment spending requirements for network infrastructure, new products and services for launches. ◼ Ensured network build up in-line with marketing plans, minimizing new product and services delays.◼ Engaged in product development and project management of ISP, commercial offering of WAP service and commercial launch of HSCSD service.

As Network Planning and Coordination Manager, reporting to CTO, I was responsible for supervising 3 Engineers, establishing Network Planning function and for planning, controlling and coordinating network expansion and relevant annual budget.Key achievements include:◼ Developed traffic prediction tools leveraging traffic modelling to achieve timely core network and interconnection expansion that reduced costs and negative seasonality impacts / traffic peaks.◼ Conceived, planned and implemented core network topology enhancement and hardware modernization that reduced floor space, advanced service offering and reduced investment requirements.

As Network Quality and Traffic Engineer, I was responsible for analyzing network quality of service while developing drive testing strategy to then identify and investigate problems affecting network performance. Responsible for forecasting traffic and translating quality issues into financial terms.

Entrepreneurship, Building The Company From The Customer Up

Mba, Telecommunications

Undertook research focusing in the field of business models for mobile payments.

Msc, Electrical Engineering

Activities and Societies: Researcher at the ElectroScience Laboratory (ESL)

Diploma In Technology And Innovation Management In Enterprises

Partial studies towards the European Master in Society, Science and Technology.

Bsc, Electrical Engineering