Former Telstra executive Nikos Katinakis has been appointed as the Chief Technology Officer of Zayo Group, a global leader in fibre network infrastructure. With over three decades of network leadership experience spanning Telstra, Rogers, and Ericsson, Katinakis's appointment signifies Zayo Group's commitment to advancing network excellence.
Given Katinakis's distinct focus on harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, his leadership is expected to bring significant enhancements in Service Delivery and Network Operations. Steve Smith, CEO of Zayo, says, "Our strategic appointment of Nikos underscores Zayo’s dedication to advancing network excellence. His network experience combined with Zayo’s capabilities and automated technology will ensure our customers can meet — and exceed — connectivity expectations, now and in the future".
At a time when the deployment of next-generation technology is accelerating more rapidly than ever, meeting the increasing capacity demands has been a critical focus area. Since 2022, the demand for bandwidth across Zayo's connectivity technologies has continuously amplified, fuelled by the burgeoning adoption of AI, next-gen cloud, satellites, quantum technologies and more. Zayo’s commitment towards network leadership and continuing investments in key regions have played a critical role in attracting Katinakis to the organisation.
As the largest independently owned fibre network, Zayo offers unique advantages in delivering tailored network infrastructure adhering to the evolving needs of its customers. With Katinakis at the helm, Zayo plans to advance its network capabilities through extensive automation of its network infrastructure and processes, ensuring it meets the capacity demands of tomorrow. Further, in 2024, Zayo aims to augment automation, streamlining network quoting-to-delivery processes for customers.
“We are at an inflection point in technology, with accessible AI, 5G, and satellite connectivity reshaping how we work,” states Katinakis. His vision for Zayo is to deliver network infrastructure which is easy to use and manage across edge, core and cloud, enhancing both connectivity and service. He adds, "Ultimately, our aim is to enable our customers to focus on their core business and not worry about transport connectivity as Zayo would be facilitating the creation of resilient and secure networks."
The appointment of Katinakis, who carries vast network leadership experience from notable telecommunications institutions such as Australia's largest mobile network Telstra, Indian frontier Reliance Jio, and Canadian telecoms giant Rogers, underlines Zayo's dedication to best-in-class service excellence. His leadership is set to expand network automation for enhanced service efficiency, while improving Zayo's customer journey via AI-driven solutions and significant NOC enhancements, further strengthening Zayo's commitment to future-proofing its network and services.