Stephen Speirs Email & Phone Number

London, London, Gb

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/how-ofcom-is-run/committees/scotlandI was appointed in 2019 for a 3 year term, and this was extended in 2022 (unusually without re-application) until 2024. I have contributed in general connectivity, specifically rural connectivity, and have contributed in multiple additional areas, including telecoms security, telecoms resiliency, cloud challenges, sustainability, social tariffs and broadcasting.

I have held multiple roles during my time in Cisco, including managing multiple product management teams (and occasionally other disciplines), as well as senior level roles driving major cross company initiatives. Working with both direct and indirect reports, I strive to develop the next generation of disciplined and value-creating product management experts.I have led product management in many product/service developments and innovation projects, where along with the broader teams, we have delivered #1 ratings as follows:(1) Cisco MPLS Diagnostics Expert - voted Network Management Product of the Year in both 2008 and 2009 by Network Computing Magazine(2) Cisco Services Cloud Professional Services - rated #1 by IDC in 2013(3) Cisco NFV & SDN Professional Services - rated #1 by Ovum in 2015(4) Cisco NFV & SDN Professional Services - rated #1 by IHS Markit in 2017(5) 5G RuralFirst - co-created this project with Strathclyde University, justified why Cisco should invest, expanded the project to a 30+ partner ecosystem, winning UK government funding along the way. This project was rated #1 5G project in the Total Telecom Connected Britain project awards in 2020.I work hard, play hard, train hard, enjoy my time off work, family (especially!) and hobbies. Also, I like to "give back", especially when I can use my work skills to create a multiplicative benefit.I am currently working in the areas of Service Provider and Enterprise IT network sustainability, including transition to customer success driven approaches. I have led Cisco 5G, Telco Cloud and Open vRAN Solution and Service Offer developments. I have driven service developments to drive both services and product revenue, achieving with one solution, as-delivered margins of over 60%.I have also driven service offerings around Data Center Cost-Optimization, NFV Solutions Integration, Automation Services, and Open Source, creating offers in both transactional as well as subscription business models.

Led product management for multiple professional services from Nexus to Cloud. Developed capability analysis process to help guide services strategy. Used customer survey of 6000+ customers to determine direction for Cloud Enablement Services – later rated #1 by IDC in 2013. Developed process & audited ~60+ UCS VAR partners as part of Cisco’s entry into the server market. Services portfolio underpinned revenue growth from ~$50M to ~$300M within 5 years.I have multiple experiences of developing aaS/subscription offers, not only with Cisco Business Critical Services, our premier subscription offer, but also examining broader strategic implications of the industry aaS transition on more traditional Cisco Services business, and for example, working on a combined product + services Compute as a Service Consumption model, leveraging Cisco UCS. Further, I am an advisory board member on the Scottish Government Supported / Technology Scotland "Mobility as a Service" initiative (although "Intelligent Integrated Transport as a Service" is probably a better description. This has given me insight into how aaS models can be applied into other problem domains and this experience would help me get up to speed fast on Aruba NaaS.

Leading team of product managers, defined & led strategy & roadmap for IP Solution Center product line – including acquisition of Parc Technologies – that turned around revenue falling below $8M growing to $20M over 5 yearsDrove Cisco MPLS Diagnostics Expert (MDE) product from corridor conversation to multiple award winner. Visited 40+ carriers across the world to demonstrate/sell this unique product. Developed ROI-based pricing model enabling pricing change from initial $60K initial ‘ballpark’ to $1.6M in our largest deal. I empowered a major account team to leverage the strategic MDE value proposition to win a $400M CRS-1 deal with a major carrier, where MDE was explicitly called out as *the* differentiator that enabled Cisco to beat a major competitor.Created the first software subscription offer for our business unit in 2007 - albeit using manual methods. Enabled Cisco to win an MDE deal with a significant German Data Center provider.I became an expert in guiding new business propositions through Cisco’s disciplined governance processes, working cross functionally and globally, engaging to VP/SVP levels when appropriate, and leveraging customer and sales team inputs, in order to drive faster progress, alignment, and improved value propositions.Key learnings: Manage out software product managers who can’t use their own product; the Chasm is real - sometimes; watch out for “corporate antibodies” who try to kill innovation programs

Led multiple teams of product managers, marcoms managers and technical publications. Drove delivery of multiple product release definitions and release launches, while supporting and learning from many service provider customer engagements including SBC (now AT&T), to Customer VP level.In this role, I was nominated to lead a cross company initiative to address challenges in MPLS management, ranging from device instrumentation to network management software applications. On this, I reported to the strategic MPLS Business Council and industry legend Prem Jain in particular. I built credibility with true industry experts to deliver a strategy and execution program for consistent MPLS device instrumentation, in a program lasting several years.Turned around our team's reputation with the Cisco technical sales community after significant quality issues, critical account escalations, and a challenging acquisition period.Refocused Atlantech/Cisco team/site after significant layoff to deliver (subsequent) award-winning CIsco MPLS Diagnostics Expert (MDE) product.

Atlantech was acquired by Cisco in May 2000 in $200M deal - the largest at the time of any technology acquisition in Scotland. Being one of the key employees who made this happen was a fantastic, exciting experience.I was the lead product manager in development of the Atlantech Management Application Framework and associated Element Management products, travelling extensively to work with equipment vendors and service providers worldwide in the process.

A Scottish startup company, OST developed an award winning C++ Object Animation/software debugging tool called "Look!". I joined as employee #4 with the company doubling in size in the first year (Eventually acquired by Wind River Systems)

Palo Alto, Ca, Us

Sun Microsystems (Scotland) BV, Linlithgow, Scotland. I was part of the IT function, developing manufacturing automation and MRP II systems for Sun's European manufacturing base. Worked on Sybase and Oracle solutions ran from Sun's data center to control and automate various production processes.

Yokohama, Kanagawa, Jp

JVC Manufacturing (UK) Ltd, East Kilbride, Scotland

Charlotte, North Carolina, Us

Honeywell Control Systems Ltd, Newhouse, Scotland

Mba, Mba

Msc, Digital Systems Engineering

Bsc Hons - First Class Honours, Applied Physics