Ofcom signals commitment to emerging tech

The creation of this new role comes at an interesting time for the regulator. It appointed Dame Melanie Dawes yesterday and announced its board is looking to have a new chair in place by the end of the year amidst a shift to an expanded remit to include regulating the internet.

Yih-Choung Teh, Ofcom’s group director for strategy and research, said, “It’s fantastic that Simon’s joining Ofcom. He will bring significant experience to our work and help ensure we’re equipped to handle the increasing pace of technological change.”

Saunders joins from Google, where he was head of connectivity partnerships for Europe, Middle East and Africa, having started there in 2015. He is a specialist in communication technology, with a technical and commercial background, having worked in industry, including at Motorola and Philips, in academia at the University of Surrey and Trinity College Dublin, and as an advisor on communication systems for business users, operators and technology vendors.