Background.

Magdalene was established in 1996 to offer bespoke telecommunications solutions to customers in the public utility segment. The early emphasis was to use Magdalene’s high end capability in systems design and integration to derive well engineered, case specific solutions for a discrete communication need. This role included acting as a reseller for certain manufacturers products and some implementation and maintenance services that complemented the delivered solution. The customers at this stage included national highways, railways, oil and gas, water and electricity utilities and municipalities. The solutions typically comprised digital transmission networks with associated management systems and site ancillaries.

This initial phase of Magdalene’s evolution continued into 2002 during which steady growth and a broadening of the product portfolio took place. From 2002 through to 2005 Magdalene focussed on building its service capabilities both as a complementary feature to the continuing system integration offering and, importantly, as a standalone business in its own right. Key investments in this period included a rapid increase in the engineering headcount of the company and the establishment of our own fully fledged carrier grade network operations centre accompanied by a well equipped test bed. Concurrent with this Magdalene extended its targeted market segments to include equipment vendors and some public operators. This expansion of capabilities in the UK was replicated in France with Magdalene’s Paris office opening in 2004 and adopting the same business model as the UK operation. Subsequently the two offices have developed in close cooperation making best use of the natural synergies between them.

From 2005 Magdalene has strengthened its position as an independent solutions and services house. System integration remains an important component of the business which is enhanced through our independent position to enable the selection of the most appropriate products from the market to support our bespoke solutions. Our service offering has been extended to encompass all principal technologies from vendors across the industry. This multivendor capability addresses all phases of a network’s lifecycle from initial needs definition through project implementation, acceptance and into networks operations including first and second line maintenance. The customer base has grown to include public operators in the converging fixed and mobile segments, most of the principal equipment vendors as well as the original public utility customers. Investments in the company infrastructure have continued as the scope of offering has expanded. The most recent examples of this is the marshalling and integration centre which, in conjunction with our other facilities, uniquely positions Magdalene with a fully comprehensive in house service and solution offering from an independent platform.

Additionally, in 2008 Magdalene opened its Belfast office, which has excellent access to the main motorways and is also within easy reach of both George Best City and Belfast International airports. This office was opened as part of Magdalene’s strategic business plan to better service its expanding Irish operation with a local presence.

Vision.

Magdalene’s route to its current position has been driven by its belief in the need for customers in the telecommunications sector to have freedom of choice over their suppliers of services and solutions independently from the source of technology. As the industry matures and new technologies are introduced, fresh options in the supply of services present themselves. The ongoing trend for operators to outsource components of their operations also requires that they and their outsourcing partners can access multi vendor service capabilities. Magdalene’s independence, complete service capability and competitive cost structure ensures that we will continue to be an increasingly attractive option in both prime and supporting roles in service and solution models.

Magdalene has at its core the ongoing development of its capabilities, whether this is in terms of facilities, processes and their associated tools, partner relationships or, critically, our people. We challenge existing methodologies always seeking continuous improvement in the service experience of our customers. We are flexible in fashioning a specific solution for a customer and then very disciplined in that solution’s implementation. We believe that through focussing on our customers’ key needs such as delivery performance, network availability and cost reduction our customers are then best able to onward deliver value themselves.

Management.

Magdalene’s executive management team has tremendous breadth and depth of experience in the global telecommunications industry. Between them the team has direct experience of operating in all the market segments addressed and across all the technologies involved. With backgrounds covering strategic leadership, business and operational management the team has worked together for twenty years and has been responsible for the set up and development of several fresh businesses both in the UK and around the world.

Mark Turner (left) is a Chartered Accountant by qualification and has held senior appointments in Finance and Control both in the UK and in mainland Europe where he was Finance Director for Nokia’s businesses in Benelux. In addition he had responsibility for Nokia’s UK business with O2 which focussed on second and third generation mobile solutions and had an annual value of some £100m. Mark is a Director of Magdalene with responsibility for the business in France and key account management.

Anthony Crane (centre) has an engineering degree from the University of Manchester and was commissioned from RMA Sandhurst into Royal Signals where he served principally in the Brigade of Gurkhas. On leaving the Army he took responsibility for the initial establishment of Nokia’s service business in the UK and then assumed increasing levels of responsibility through positions in Asia before being appointed to Nokia Networks’ board with responsibility for the global service business then worth €2bn annually. He is now Managing Director at Magdalene.

Roy Cooper (right) started his career with British Railways where he followed a Telecommunications Engineering and Management career path through a number of technical and commercial positions culminating in several years at British Railways Board Headquarters developing the telecommunications strategy. He was instrumental in the establishment of Nokia’s business in the UK and subsequently took on a series of business leadership roles focusing on the utility segment. Additionally, he ran Nokia’s business for a pan-European private mobile operator with an annual revenue of £100m. He is a Director of Magdalene with responsibility for the UK business.