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Case Study: Neos Networks
AT A GLANCE
Neos Networks is a leading B2B telecoms provider with Britain’s biggest business-dedicated network. Their high capacity fibre network is transforming connectivity for Critical National Infrastructure and businesses across the UK. Neos Networks (previously known as SSE Telecommunications Limited) is 50% owned by the SSE Group and 50% owned by Infracapital.
Technology Transformation & Leadership
CONTEXT
SSE Plc sold a 50% stake in SSE Enterprise Telecoms to Infracapital at an enterprise valuation exceeding £500 million. Following the transaction, the newly formed joint venture required a full and rapid business separation. Wilton & Bain was engaged to lead the search for the Interim CTIO as the first employee into the technology function. This individual was responsible for defining the carve-out strategy and leading a complete business transformation. This included delivering a greenfield IT environment, encompassing both front-office customer technologies and back-office systems such as ERP, Finance, and HR.
THE EXERCISE
After successfully appointing Chris Akathiotis as CTIO, Wilton & Bain were retained to build out the broader technology and transformation leadership team:
- – CTIO
- – CISO
- – Business Transformation Director
- – Chief Architect
- – Head of PMO
- – Programme Managers (x5)
- – Data Protection Officer
- – Security Architects
- – Integration Architects
- – Solution Architect
- – Business Process Analysts
- – Process Improvement Leads – Six Sigma Black Belt
Over a 24-month period, this team led the migration to new business and operational support systems, established new corporate functions, rebranded the organisation as Neos Networks, and managed the full transition into the new joint venture structure, this included the successful hiring and handover to a permanent team to support business-as-usual operations.
VALUE ADDED / RESULTS
– Delivered a 5-year cloud/SaaS based strategy which included all vendor/product selection end to end
– Delivered a Lead to Cash platform including CRM amongst others (EPC, CPQ, COM, SOM, Billing), redefining the businesses approach to sales
– Delivered a migration to ServiceNow for service assurance
– Delivered the end-to-end migration from Oracle to Workday ERP (Finance, HR, and Procurement )
– Delivered an integrated end user computing/service management capability
– Delivered BAU covering off run and maintain activities
Since the completion of the transformation project, NEOS Networks has significantly diversified and scaled its commercial model. Historically dependent on its former parent SSE Plc for the majority of its revenues, the business has expanded from a captive service provider into a competitive national infrastructure operator.
NEOS has built a robust business development function and secured preferred bidder status on Project Reach, Network Rail’s £1 billion telecoms overhaul—an award that further strengthens its credibility and supports its current debt-raising strategy.
