Blagden handed the reins for Project Gigabit

Wed, 20/07/2022 - 10:19
Simon Blagden

Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries has chosen Simon Blagden CBE to Chair Building Digital UK (BDUK), placing him at the help of Project Gigabit, backed with £5bn to connect hard-to-reach areas as well as the £1bn Shared Rural Network which will dial up 4G phone signal rural areas.

He brings 30 years’ experience in the IT, telecoms and digital industry, having spent 14 years as non-executive Chairman at Fujitsu Telecommunications UK.

In 2000 he joined Johannesburg tech specialist Spescom as CEO to lead its international telecoms and IT business.

He will continue to serve as non-executive Chairman of management consultancy Larkspur International but steps down as Chair of the Telecoms Supply Chain Diversification (TSCD) Advisory Council.

Dorries said: “BDUK is critical to rolling out the lightning-fast broadband and mobile coverage needed to improve lives and drive productivity across the UK.

“Simon will be a capable chair of BDUK thanks to his understanding of telecoms and wide breadth of experience in the sector.

Blagden added: “My priority will be for BDUK to build on its foundations and deliver the digital infrastructure that is vital for people, communities and businesses across the UK.”