Louise Ford
Interim Partnerships & Business Development Manager
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About
Experienced commercial and business development professional with a strong telecommunications and technology background. Track record managing enterprise customers, carrier relationships, strategic partners, suppliers, sales pipelines, product launches and commercial operations across international markets. Available for interim and fixed-term assignments where an organisation needs an experienced, hands-on professional to manage relationships, develop opportunities, improve sales processes, support a team, deliver a defined project within a contract period, or provide maternity/parental leave cover.
Experience
Managing Director - EMPELLO
(2021-10 - 2024-05)
- Led commercial strategy and sales across carriers, billing providers and merchants.
- Directed commercial, operations and technical functions, aligning priorities with business objectives.
Interim Director of Carrier Relations - MGAGE (NOW KALEYRA, A TATA COMPANY)
(2020-08 - 2021-09)
- Managed commercial relationships with carriers across Europe.
- Led projects covering RCS rollout, compliance monitoring, SMSC migrations and upgrades, security frameworks and anti-smishing.
- Acted as interface between carrier partners, industry bodies and the business.
Interim General Manager - BIG MOBILE
(2019-07 - 2019-12)
- Led launch of a new ad-serving platform with partners.
- Developed and managed publisher supply-side relationships.
- Led Salesforce / CRM strategic review and implementation.
CEO & Director - ENGAGE AUSTRALIA
(2016-04 - 2018-12)
- Transformed a legacy mobile business into a competitive mobile-solutions organisation.
- Led acquisition and integration of Salmat, IDS and Dialogue.
- Managed carrier and regulatory relationships and strategic SaaS partnerships.
Chair & Deputy Chair, Premium Rate Services Working Group - THE COMMUNICATIONS ALLIANCE
(2013-01 - 2018-12)
- Led industry liaison with carrier working groups and regulatory bodies.
- Directed industry strategy and contributed to formulation and implementation of the Mobile Premium Services Code.
CEO & Director | Group Development Manager - OXYGEN8 COMMUNICATIONS
(2009-01 - 2018-12)
- Led operations of a business generating approximately $28m annual revenue, with three years of double-digit growth.
- Managed teams of up to 25 staff.
- Developed strategy across product, pricing, marketing, sales, operations, compliance, regulation and carrier management.
Head of Sales | Sales Manager - TANLA MOBILE
(2006-01 - 2008-12)
- Led sales and product team of five; managed forecasting, pipeline, sales strategy, revenue targets, training and appraisal.
- Implemented Salesforce and managed account management, new business development and carrier relationships.
- Achieved annual revenue targets of approximately £4m.
Head of Mobile Services | Business Development Manager - PNC TELECOM (NOW GCI)
(2005-01 - 2006-12)
- Managed product strategy across billing, mobile applications, content and services, plus suppliers and contract negotiations.
- Launched a mobile product portfolio within eight weeks.
Commercial Manager - MINSTREL MEDIA
(2003-01 - 2005-12)
- Developed product, marketing and channel strategy; managed suppliers, partners and new business development.
- Developed mobile and web product portfolios from inception to launch.
Business Development Manager - MOBILEWAY (NOW SAP MOBILE)
(2002-01 - 2003-12)
- Managed customer relationships, bids, proposals, pricing and contractual negotiations.
- Managed a UK mobile carrier relationship with T-Mobile.
- Achieved 170% of target.
Key Account Manager - AT&T COMMUNICATIONS
(1995-01 - 2000-12)
- Managed a major multinational customer and coordinated technical sales, project management, customer service and executive stakeholders.
- Achieved 600% contract performance and 100% revenue performance in 2000.
Education
BSc (Hons) - Business Studies, Marketing - City, University of London
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
BTEC Level 2 Certificate - Lean Organisation Management Techniques
Chartered Institute of Marketing
Market Research Society
HubSpot Professional - Inbound, Inbound Sales, Email Marketing, Social Media, Sales Enablement, Content Marketing, Sales Software and Marketing Software - HubSpot
