Louise Ford

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.

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.

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