Hull-based telecoms company KCOM is undergoing a management shift as CEO Tim Shaw steps down after serving the company for six and a half years, with three years as CEO. Under his leadership, KCOM substantially broadened its fibre broadband reach across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, now covering 305,000 premises as of November 2024. This expansion marks the culmination of a £17 million project to transition from copper networks to full fibre infrastructures.
KCOM’s network improvements have been accompanied by growing industry challenges. Local competitors like MS3 and Connexin have reduced KCOM’s market dominance, while the telecom regulator Ofcom is pressing for increased infrastructure accessibility for rivals. In response, KCOM recently published a pricing scheme for its Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) services, which could potentially level the competition field.
The competitive landscape and regulatory pressures coincide with strategic moves by KCOM’s key investor, Macquarie, considering a potential company sale as of last year, although no conclusive updates have been reported. This situation, along with mounting debt, sets a formidable stage for Shaw’s successor.
Throughout his tenure, Shaw prioritized customer-focused service innovation. Richard Greenleaf, Chair of KCOM, expressed gratitude: “Our huge thanks go to Tim. He has led KCOM through a period of significant change, both for the business and in the wider UK telco market. Throughout this, he has always kept the customer and service innovation at the heart of what we do.”
While the board embarks on the search for a new CEO, CFO Richard Schäfer will act as interim CEO. The appointment comes at a crucial time as KCOM strategizes its role in the evolving UK connectivity ecosystem.
