I have over 30 years of experience in the telecoms industry, across a broad range of roles from product strategy, technical pre-sales, professional services, customer support and software engineering.Currently, I am leading AIOps strategy within Azure For Operators at Microsoft, focusing on AI-enabled network operations and building customer and partner engagements.In my most recent role as Director of Technical Solutions, I managed teams responsible for pre-sales technical engagements and partnered with our professional services team to introduce new products to the market. This role required a hands-on approach with software sales, where I utilized my technical experience and strong communication skills to design complex solutions and build key relationships to ensure customer satisfaction and long-term partnerships.I am experienced at building highly performing teams of technical experts and passionate about customer engagement and delivery.
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Vp Worldwide SupportAlianza, Inc.
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Aiops Product Strategy - Azure For OperatorsMicrosoft Nov 2023 - Oct 2024Redmond, Washington, UsWorking with Microsoft strategic partners and largest operator customers to help them leverage Microsoft Azure for Operators solutions such as Azure Operator Insights and Azure Operator Service Manager for AI enabled network operations.As part of the product management team within Azure For Operators, I have been working with the Microsoft sales team to evangelise our AIOps products to our customers, leveraging Microsoft's leadership in AI to drive deep data-driven insights into operator networks, improve operational efficiency, and monetise their investment in their networks. -
Director Of Technical SolutionsMicrosoft Mar 2021 - Jan 2024Redmond, Washington, UsPart of Metaswitch, a Microsoft company in the Azure group. I manage teams running pre-sales technical engagement, solution architecture, proof of concept trials, and helping our professional services team to innovate and bring new products to market.
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Vp Systems EngineeringMetaswitch Networks Oct 2011 - Mar 2021Enfield, GbPre-sales technical leadership - Managing the System Architect team responsible for building complex core network proposals for telecoms operators, the Trials team responsible for executing pre-sales proof of concepts, and the proposals team responsible for responding to RFPs.At the point Metaswitch was acquired by Microsoft, I managed our pre-sales technical team engaging in proof of concept trials and architecture/design with our prospects. This was a very high performing team, instrumental in closing deals with T1 operators including AT&T, Sprint, British Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, Telmex, and with approx. 100 other customers worldwide. -
Customer Support And Delivery ManagerMetaswitch Networks Jul 2009 - Oct 2011Enfield, GbManaged the US based customer support and delivery team for Metaswitch, responsible for customer relationships and delivery of complex network deployment and migration projects with our largest strategic customers.
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Sustaining Engineering ManagerMetaswitch Networks Jan 2003 - Jul 2009Enfield, GbCreated the sustaining engineering team within Metaswitch, responsible for supporting the deployed customer base of voice core solutions.Providing diagnosis and bug fix support to over 1000 deployed mission critical systems at 500+ telecom customers across the world.I managed a team of highly skilled software engineers recruited from the development team and built a hugely successful, high productivity team from the ground up.
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Senior Software Engineering ManagerMetaswitch Networks Feb 1999 - Jan 2003Enfield, GbSoftware engineering manager responsible for integration, testing and delivery of Metaswitch voice core products, leading a highly-skilled team of systems programmers creating the first Metaswitch softswitch.
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Software Engineering ManagerMetaswitch Networks Oct 1994 - Feb 1999Enfield, GbSoftware engineering manager, leading a small team of graduate engineers developing communications protocol software for IBM mainframe interop. Delivered several major releases of our SNAP-IX software suite. Major customers included IBM, Microsoft, HP, Sun. Also responsible for product management of the solution.
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Software EngineerMetaswitch Networks Sep 1992 - Oct 1994Enfield, GbSoftware engineer working on portable communications protocol software and integrated solutions for mainframe connectivity, with major customers including Microsoft, HP, Sun Microsystems
Nick Richards Education Details
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University Of CambridgeMaths
Frequently Asked Questions about Nick Richards
What company does Nick Richards work for?
Nick Richards works for Alianza, Inc.
What is Nick Richards's role at the current company?
Nick Richards's current role is VP Worldwide Support.
What schools did Nick Richards attend?
Nick Richards attended University Of Cambridge.
Who are Nick Richards's colleagues?
Nick Richards's colleagues are Lucio Porras Garcia, Miloš Obradović, Daniel Rasmussen, Mihajlo Mulic, Cat Tac, Ivan Polovyi, Eizabeth Molina.
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