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Connected Tech Talks

Welcome to Connected Tech Talks, the podcast by ITS Technology Group – where infrastructure, innovation and leadership collide. We unpack the big shifts shaping telecoms and digital infrastructure, joined by the people influencing what happens next.

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Conversations that power what’s next

Connected Tech Talks returns for Season 2, bringing together ITS voices, industry specialists and channel experts to explore the trends shaping the future of connectivity. From full fibre networks and digital transformation to partner growth, customer expectations and emerging technologies, each episode gives you practical insight from the people helping to move the market forward.

Tune in for useful conversations, fresh perspectives and ideas to help partners stay informed, competitive and ready for what comes next.

Connected Tech Talks Season 2

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ITS Podcast Tiles(3)
  • Season 2
  • Episode 1
  • June 2026

Bridging Borders: Inside the ITS & euNetworks Partnership

Hybrid cloud adoption, European data centre growth and rising demand for secure cross-border connectivity are reshaping enterprise network strategy. Dave Ferry is joined by Toby Williams from euNetworks to explore why private, managed connectivity is becoming a competitive advantage.

Host: Dave Ferry
Guest: Toby Williams, euNetworks

ITS Layouts(9)
2
  • Season 2
  • Episode 2
  • Coming Soon

AI in Telecoms: Strategic Revolution or Expensive Distraction?

AI is dominating boardroom conversations across telecoms, but is the industry unlocking real operational value or accelerating ahead of governance and measurable return? Dave Ferry is joined by Jonathon Concannon and Professor Keeley Crockett to explore ambition, accountability and responsible AI adoption.

Host: Dave Ferry
Guest: Jonathon Concannon, Professor Keeley Crockett

This podcast is coming soon. To be alerted when we publish, click the button below:

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3
  • Season 2
  • Episode 3
  • Coming Soon

The Post-TAR Fibre Market: Competition, Control and the Future of UK Access

Ofcom’s TAR26 could reshape how the UK fibre market competes. Dave Ferry is joined by Kevin McNulty and Gita Sorensen to discuss investment, regulation, infrastructure competition and whether the market reset will support sustainable plurality or reinforce dominance.

Host: Dave Ferry
Guest: Kevin McNulty, Gita Sorensen

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Connected Tech Talks Season 1

Created in 2025, Season 1 of Connected Tech Talks explored the major trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the connectivity sector. Across nine episodes, the series brought together ITS voices including Katharine McNamara and Dave Ferry, alongside guests such as Luke Hunt, Pete England, John Duncan, Kevin Gaskell, Michael Cox, Carol Thomas, Kevin McNulty, Jason Stanton and Claire Davies.

The season covered a broad mix of topics, from the impact of changing technologies on customer solutions to the digital trends influencing product development. Episodes also explored what it means to be a digitally mature local authority, how customer service expectations are evolving, and how UK and European markets differ when it comes to technology, connectivity and network deployment.

Later conversations looked at strategic leadership, business direction, customer engagement and the changing role of AI in the workplace. Together, Season 1 offered a varied and practical look at the connectivity landscape, with insight from people working across technology, customer experience, public sector transformation, international markets and business leadership.

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Paolo Benedetto
Paolo Benedetto
Chief Financial Officer

Paolo leads the finance function of ITS as Chief Financial Officer – playing a key role in steering the business, shaping strategy and long-term value creation. Paolo brings significant experience from high-growth, founder-led and private equity-backed companies, particularly in FMCG, infrastructure and industrial markets. He has played a leading role in helping scale multiple organisations from tens of millions to hundreds of millions in revenue through organic, acquisitional, and operational growth initiatives resulting in many successful major business exits.

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Gordon Riddell
Strategic Planning & Insight Director

Gordon Riddell is ITS Business Planning Director who leads our Business Intelligence function. A strategic planning expert with a deep passion for driving transformation, Gordon focuses on driving customer-centric action across the organisation through data and analytics. With experience spanning utilities, telecoms, retail, public sector, and automotive industries, he brings a wealth of insight into workforce management, forecasting, demand planning, and operational performance. Gordon has led planning and transformation initiatives across both private and public sectors, supporting investment readiness, digital evolution, and large-scale infrastructure rollouts. His expertise lies in turning complex data into actionable intelligence, enabling businesses to optimise field operations, contact centres, and back-office functions for long-term success.

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Dave Ferry
Chief Sales Officer

As Chief Sales Officer, Dave leads the sales strategy at ITS, driving growth and strengthening customer relationships. Overseeing commercial success across Partner Markets, Public Sector and Major Business, Dave uses his 20 years of telecoms experience to build high-performing teams and deliver innovative solutions that meet market demands.

Previously, Dave held senior roles at Virgin Media Business, leading successful teams in various market segments.

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Kevin McNulty
Strategy Director

Kevin leads the Strategy team in ITS, comprising the core functions of network Investment (including M&A), regulation, public affairs, product management and marketing. With over 4 years’ experience within the leadership team of ITS, Kevin has played a pivotal role in shaping the business direction as it has grown to be a leading provider of B2B wholesale connectivity.

Prior to ITS, Kevin has a long background in the industry, having held senior positions in BT, Virgin Media, KCOM and NTT – as well as a period spent in consultancy.

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Claire Davies
People & Culture Director

Claire is the People and Culture Director for ITS, responsible for ensuring we provide a great place to work, with amazing people who are happy, productive, and engaged.

A CIPD qualified HR professional with previous industry experience at Amey, as well as more recent experience in a number of small businesses, Claire is passionate about putting people first in order to grow the business.

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Mike Goodwin
Chief Technology Officer

Mike is responsible for all technical, operations, customer service and security within ITS. Using his degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and MBA from Manchester Business School, Mike focuses on how ITS can introduce and support complex solutions designed to create customer-focused teams that ensure exceptional experience. On top of his extensive career history spanning TalkTalk, Hyperoptic and Fibre Nation, Mike is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the IET.

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Charlie Versi
Chief Operating Officer

Charlie leads ITS’s end-to-end operational delivery, with a focus on service excellence and delivering an outstanding experience for both partners and their business customers. His appointment will help build on the company’s strong foundations – driving transformation, quality, and innovation and using them as key enablers of continued growth.

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Daren Baythorpe
Chief Executive Officer

Daren is a dynamic leader who drives the strategy, growth and direction of ITS. Daren has significant utility / telecoms sector experience and has held several board-level leadership and advisory positions for a number of organisations including Severn Trent Water and BT. He served on the Board of Openreach, where he held executive responsibilities as Director of the Customer Service Division, Director for Field Engineering then latterly serving as Managing Director of the Business Division.

Daren also regularly advises and collaborates with government and other regulatory / telecoms bodies on sector-related issues. His in-depth knowledge and understanding of the requirements of operators and high capacity data users, through his vast experience across the industry, mean that ITS is thriving under his leadership

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Kevin Gaskell
Chairman

Kevin leads our board and is responsible for giving strategic advice and counsel, as well as attracting and driving investment. Kevin is recognised as one of the most successful leaders of his generation, having led iconic brands such as Porsche, Lamborghini and BMW. A highly experienced serial entrepreneur and private equity chairman, he has led multi-billion-pound global organisations; and also founded startups such as Epyx Limited, building it up to become the market leader for automotive e-commerce solutions.

Kevin has received multiple accolades; highlights include making the ‘UK’s top 40 leaders under 40’ list, chairing the ‘best UK private equity investment of the year’, and being a founder of award-winning start-up companies across the globe.

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