In this Q&A series, we put key questions to the members of Technetix’ strategic advisory board (SAB) and main board members who generously share their expeIn this Q&A series, we put key questions to the members of Technetix’ strategic advisory board (SAB) and main board members who generously share their experience, views and wealth of knowledge in their answers.

With their distinguished careers ranging from global sales and marketing, illustrious halls of fame, investment in mobile banking technology, to holding over 100 patents, our board members give their answers to our second question:

How did you get into this industry, and what has your career path looked like?

Colin Büchner, MD Chief Network Officer for Liberty Global

SAB member since 2019

“Telecommunications have fascinated me since I was a child and have determined my career. After several roles in mobile and fixed network operator organisations, I joined the cable industry in 2001. At this point in time, DOCSIS was still in its infancy and a residential bandwidth of 1 Mbps was considered high-end. Over the last 20-plus years at Liberty Global, my team and I have built and upgraded networks across Europe. Technetix was one of the key partners supporting this journey, always looking for smart ways to modernize and prolong the life of these networks.”

Duncan McIntyre, Technetix Non-Executive Chairman

Board member since 2009

“I started my career as an accountant but left to build a technology company called Morse. This grew to over £500m and we listed on the UK stock market. I then helped build the first UK mobile banking company, Monitise, which also went onto list on the London markets. I now invest and assist companies to grow.”

Ron Coppock, former President of Sales, Arris International

SAB member since 2017

“I got involved in cable TV in the late 1970s, through the set-top box route which was a small but growing market in the USA. After university in the late ‘70s, I took a sales position with a company called Oak Industries – the second biggest set-box provider in the country at the time – in their electrical components and switch division. I was quickly re-assigned to their fledgling cable TV division, in which I’d sell set-top boxes out of my car to ‘mom-and-pop’ cable TV companies.

“I then went to work for Pioneer in their set-top box division, then over to Scientific Atlanta. After five or so years there, I was recruited by Texscan, a small cable TV access network who were retooling their management team to bring the company back to solvency after bankruptcy. They then sold to TCI, the largest cable MSO at that time. We not only became their supplier, but actually sold it to John Malone (TCI’s owner) who brokered the sale of Texscan to Antec, a larger cable TV access product company.

“From Antec, I became involved in a joint venture with Nortel, ARRIS Interactive (now named ARRIS Group) whose technology facilitated the addition of telephony technology to cable TV systems. The company grew organically and through major acquisitions such as Motorola Home, Pace, Big Band and C-COR, and the mainstay of my 32 years at ARRIS has been in organizational integrations and growth, focusing on sales and marketing.”

Tony Werner, former CTO Comcast

Board member since 2024

“I joined the industry straight out of college. I spent time designing networks with Magnavox, then I joined RCA’s field engineering team, assisting them with their amplifier design. From there, I went on to work at Rogers Communications, TCI/AT&T, Aurora, Liberty, and finally Comcast.”

Jay Rolls, former CTO Charter Communications

SAB member since 2019

“Since completing my education, my entire professional life has been devoted to the telecommunications industry, and I’ve been fortunate to be part of it throughout my career.

“The first third of my journey was in intelligence and defense, while the remaining two-thirds have been focused on the commercial side within the broadband and service provider sectors. Reflecting on this extensive journey, I’ve realized over the past five years just how rich these experiences are to draw upon.

“When I sense an intuitive feeling about something, I’ve learned to trust it, as it often signals an opportunity worth exploring. I enjoy blending my experience with fresh ideas to discover if there’s a magical synergy to be found.”

Lorenz Glatz, former CTO Kabel Deutschland

SAB member since 2019

“Being a physicist by training, I stumbled into the internet and broadband industry in Europe before it was even a thing. I was part of the team that introduced broadband-over-cable in my native city of Vienna, and woke up a few years later as Senior Vice President Design & Architecture for LGI Europe. In 2006, I moved on to become CTO at Kabel Deutschland, then the biggest cable operator in Europe. I had lots of fun there with another stellar team, and helped sell the company to Vodafone.

“I briefly considered leaving the industry; until I realized it does not let go! So here I am, 10  years later, still part of this amazing industry, still hanging out with great folks and minds. And most of all, still having fun, not least as part of Technetix’ SAB.”

Check back in a few weeks’ time when we ask our SAB our third question of the series: what trends and emerging technologies do they think are impacting our industry the most right now?

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