Fibre and wireless internet service provider Airband Community Internet has appointed Mark Stansfeld as its new chairman.
The Worcestershire firm specialises in providing high speed internet in rural and isolated areas, and to community projects in England and Wales.
Stansfeld brings to the company more than 30 years of leadership experience in the telecoms and technology sectors.
An experienced telecoms executive, he held board level positions at O2 UK and giffgaff, where he helped the brand become one of the fastest growing businesses in the UK, winning Best Telecoms Company from ‘Which’ over multiple years.
Stansfeld is currently also chairman of the Worcestershire 5G Testbed, which advises government and industry on next-generation technology, and he also chairs the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Mark succeeds interim chairman Philip Lawrence, who will remain on the board as a non-executive director.
Airband founder and Managing Director Redmond Peel, said Stanfeld’s experience was a perfect match for the firm.
“Mark is well positioned to help us capitalise on the significant opportunity ahead of us and deliver significant results.
“I’m also delighted that Philip has agreed to stay on the board and thank him for his guidance over the last year.”
“We know that there is tremendous opportunity to play a role creating a better digital infrastructure in many parts of the UK and we’ve seen demand for our services increase in both rural areas and urban not-spots – so expanding our team in order to meet the demand has been a key focus during this past year.
Stansfeld added: “These are dynamic and fast-changing times in the industry and I’m excited to be joining a leading team that is passionate and focussed on helping people and their communities secure the right to digital connectivity.”
Last year the firm secured £16m through the National Digital Infrastructure Fund (NDIF) to expand their rural superfast and ultrafast broadband network.