Wildanet Expands Top Team as £50m Gigabit Roll-Out Gathers Pace

Founded in 2017 to deliver ultrafast, reliable broadband to communities across Cornwall, Wildanet secured a £50m investment from the Gresham House British Strategic Investment Infrastructure Fund in December last year.

With the roll-out of its gigabit-capable fibre and wireless network gathering pace, the company has announced a series of Board-level and executive appointments aimed at bolstering its ambition to be the provider of choice in rural areas.

Eddie Minshull, who has over 30 years of proven leadership in the telecoms and technology industries, has joined the Wildanet Board as Chair. Eddie has held senior roles across Europe, North America, Africa and the Middle East with MLL Telecom, Juniper Networks and Alcatel, and has extensive experience of hybrid fibre and wireless telecoms networks.

Helen Wylde joins the Wildanet Board as a non-executive director. Helen’s experience includes senior sales and marketing roles with Vodafone, O2, and T-Mobile. She specialises in helping businesses to deliver growth and innovation and received the Women Business Leaders Award for Technology and Digital 2019.  Helen’s current role is Managing Director of East Coast Trains.

Justin Clark has joined Wildanet as Chief Operating Officer and General Manager from JT Global (Jersey Telecom), where he was head of global operations across the company’s London and Chicago offices. Justin’s career spans IT and telecoms, with a focus on operational efficiency and enhanced customer experience.

Stafford Hunt, current Head of Commercial Development at Jersey Telecom, will shortly join Wildanet as Chief Marketing Officer. Stafford has broad technology experience having worked for world-class organisations including Exodus Communication, Cable & Wireless, SunGard Availability Services, T-Systems and Dimension Data.

Chief executive Ian Calvert, who started Wildanet four years ago, takes on the new role of Founder and Deputy Chair to focus on his passion delivering Wildanet’s digital inclusion agenda to rural communities across Cornwall. Ian’s day-to-day operational duties will be taken on by Justin Clark, pending the start of a new CEO in March next year who has already been appointed but not yet named. Wildanet will also shortly appoint a Chief Sales Officer.

Wildanet Chair, Eddie Minshull, said: “Wildanet is a thriving socially conscious broadband and fibre provider based in Cornwall and providing coverage across the county.  I am proud that we continue to grow and expand, creating jobs and providing connectivity for Cornwall.  None of this would have happened without the vision and drive of Ian Calvert our Founder. I look forward to many more years working together to create the next phase of innovation, expansion, and growth.  We are now focused on the next chapter of Wildanet’s success connecting Cornwall for a better digital future.”

Ian Calvert said: “Wildanet is and remains a key vision and passion for me personally, especially in the battle for greater digital inclusion for all, as I assume the role of Founder & Deputy Chair. I will continue to focus on Wildanet’s wider relationships, new business concepts, digital inclusion within Cornwall and our strategic approach to the marketplace".

Peter Bachmann, Fund Manager at Gresham House, said: “Gresham House are delighted to be supporting the continued expansion of the Wildanet Business in Cornwall.  We would like to take the opportunity to thank Ian for his outstanding contribution and look forward to continuing to work with Ian and the rest of the team at Wildanet  to create a more digitally inclusive society driven by innovation and fresh thinking”

Photography: shows Stafford Hunt, Justin Clark, Ian Calvert, Helen Wyle and Eddie Minshull.

For more information contact:

John Casey, DCA Public Relations, 07796-615864, [email protected]