Mark Newman to Serve as Chief Analyst, leading TM Forum’s Market Research and Analysis; Robert Walker to Lead TM Forum’s Customer Centricity & Analytics Strategic Program
MORRISTOWN, NJ—February 2, 2017—TM Forum, the global industry association for digital business, today announced the appointments of Mark Newman as chief analyst, leading TM Forum’s research initiatives, and Robert Walker, as senior director of its customer centricity & analytics program. Both bring more than 25 years of experience in delivering keen insights and transformation programs within the telecom sector.
Mark Newman joins as the new chief analyst within TM Forum’s Research division. In this role, he will be charged with building the Forum’s research agenda, conducting market research, analyzing industry trends, and presenting findings via research reports, webinars, workshops and presentations. “It’s a fantastic time to be joining TM Forum,” observes Mark Newman. “Communications service providers have no choice but to rapidly transform if they want to play an integral role in the digital economy, and the Forum is providing our members with the invaluable direction and guidance to succeed.”
Mark has worked as a telecoms analyst for 25 years, delivering insights on the future of telecoms to global audiences, helping them to plan for the technology and disruptive new business models that will fundamentally transform their businesses. His recent research has focused on telecoms operator business models, digital transformation, service provider diversification, and the intersection between Internet and telecoms. Prior to joining TM Forum, Mark was chief research officer at Informa Telecoms & Media and Ovum.
As senior director of customer centricity & analytics, Robert Walker will be tasked with driving collaborative work to support the next generation of best practices in customer experience management, data analytics, and omnichannel. He will lead several key initiatives, including the development of an industry standard Digital Maturity Model as well as a Data Analytics Toolkit, which helps identify and build high value foundational business models through user stories, best practices, tools and reference architectures. Robert will also work closely with members to develop practical applications of customer analytics within trust (security, privacy, compliance, and revenue assurance) and the Internet of Everything.
Robert has worked in the telecom industry for over 35 years, primarily in product and program management roles. He has led a significant number of technology, cost and organizational design-focused transformation programs under £multi-million budget responsibility. Prior to joining TM Forum, Robert spent 25 years with BT, where he successfully delivered the UK’s first rate-adaptive broadband product from concept to market in five quarters, utilizing agile techniques and being one of BT’s first ‘90-day cycle’ method deliveries. He most recently served as head of portfolio transformation & customer experience at BT.
“We are delighted to welcome Robert and Mark to the TM Forum team, and look forward to seeing them contribute to the Forum’s ongoing success as we work to accelerate the transformation of our industry,” said Nik Willetts, acting CEO, TM Forum. “Their long-standing expertise and experience will provide tremendous benefits to our members as we continue to develop the programs and valued research programs that our members increasingly rely on to drive digital business transformation, growth and sustained commercial success.”
About TM Forum
TM Forum is the global industry association for digital business, connecting talented individuals, leading companies, and diverse ecosystems to accelerate our members’ successful digital business transformation. The collective experience and interests of our member community – comprised of tens-of-thousands of professionals within 900+ market-leading global enterprises, service providers and technology suppliers that together account for trillions of dollars in annual revenues – drives everything we do, from thought-provoking research and publications, to practical guidance, collaboration programs, tools and best practices, hands-on events, and training for business and IT leaders.
Through four key member-driven programs – Agile Business and IT, Open Digital & the Internet of Everything, Customer Centricity & Analytics and Open APIs & Digital Platforms – we provide an open environment for our members to connect and collaborate with individuals and groups from around the world to solve key challenges and rapidly innovate to deliver and monetize new services, improve business agility, partner for success, reduce cost and risk, and enhance customer value and loyalty. To accelerate your innovation efforts and join our digital journey as a valued member and collaborator, please visit www.tmforum.org.
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