About Us
The aQovia team includes senior executives and associates from a diverse range of technology and telecommunication companies, including Sprint, KPMG, Vodafone and Orange.
aQovia's approach is based on a results-oriented management model, coupled with a balance of vision and flexibility.
aQovia is an accomplished innovator within the converged Telecoms, Media and Technology (TMT) sector, leveraging a direct customer relationship through ownership of our municipal programmes versus 'strategy and/or consultancy only' entities.
The extended aQovia team of experts includes:
- Executives and Strategists who are industry thought leaders in Telecom, Media and Technology.
- Business Architects that bridge the gap between business and technology.
- Business Process professionals specialising in operational excellence and improving customer experience.
- Agile Project Managers who pragmatically and systematically ensure the delivery of new products and services.
- SOA and SaaS specialists pioneering new ways to build and deliver services.
- Innovators & Entrepreneurs with a history of harvesting innovation.
2009
Established a new Public-Private venture with UK local authority Swindon Borough Council to build a municipal Wi-Fi network creating a digital city, under the Signal brand, sustained by cloud-based and managed services. Applications such as home health solutions, home energy monitoring, and security services shall be integrated with Internet access, personal mobile devices, such as the ever popular iPhone and Google Android, and embedded Machine-to-Machine (M2M) devices.
Programme leadership of $100+ million plus Kenan billing project for a West African Operator, on behalf of Comverse.
2008
Exclusive partnership with Cable and Wireless for initiation, creation, launch and operation of Services-EcoSystem (SeS), a SaaS products and applications platform marketplace, driving broadband sales, realising new recurring revenue streams and increasing customer stickiness. Applications launched included Videocells IP CCTV and Mozy Online Backup.
Programme leadership for flagship pan-European Kenan billing project for COLT Telecom, on behalf of Comverse.
Senior Advisory Team
Eric Abensur
Eric Abensur is the Chief Executive Officer of Venda Group. Eric joined Venda in 2007 from Orange UK PLC. Eric held the position of Vice-President of Orange Home and Chief Executive Orange Home UK PLC, following the merger of the Internet and mobile operations of France Telecom In the UK. Previously, Eric held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Wanadoo (formerly FREESERVE), a leading UK Internet Service Provider. Wanadoo received the ISPA UK Best Consumer ISP award three years consecutively over 2004, 2005, and 2006. Under his leadership, the company successfully reconciled innovation and continuous customer experience improvement. Eric started his career in 1989 with Ernst & Young in Paris and Los Angeles, specialising in the Technology Media and Entertainment sector. From 1998 to 2001, he was Finance Director of France Telecom PAY-TV division.
The Guardian voted Eric Abensur amongst the Top Ten Most Influential People in New Media in 2004.
Leo Lundy
Leo Lundy is Group Chief Technology Officer at Imagine Communications Group of Europe. As Group CTO at Imagine Leo is instrumental to the vision of Imagine Group, to create a single communications company that provides all of the data and voice needs (fixed or mobile) for residential and business customers. It achieves this by combining on the ground business development and local assets (spectrum, MVNO agreements, fixed line switches) connected via a single pan-European IP backbone for the delivery of centralised services and operations.
As part of this goal, Imagine holds a strategic interest in a number of companies in the UK, the Netherlands, the US, and Ireland where it is seen as the no 2 operator in the residential and small business sectors for the provision of broadband and voice services.
Management Team
Muhammad Malik
Muhammad Malik is the founder and Managing Director of aQovia. Muhammad commenced professional life in the banking sector, specialising in US multi-state banking systems and technology optimisation. Muhammad joined the US based telecommunication provider Sprint in 1998, progressing to lead the Sprint International network planning and engineering team for Europe Mid-east and Africa (EMEA) region. In 2001 he moved to London, as head of network planning and engineering for Sprint EMEA. Muhammad and his team successfully built the Sprint pan-European multi-service network, including the first ever 10G transatlantic and pan-European IP backbone.
m.malik@aQovia.com
John O’Sullivan
John O'Sullivan is the commercial director at aQovia. John is a seasoned financial officer, with a career spanning several leading international companies, including KPMG, Digital Equipment Corporation (now HP) and Kentz, where he developed partnering and outsourcing arrangements with Perot Systems, Dell Computer and Misys plc. John also held the Chief Financial Officer position of a pan European telecoms operator, Kast Telecom, where he led efforts to raise $30m of equity and $100m of vendor financing. John has also been an integral member of British Telecom’s incubator programme, BT Brightstar, enabling the successful development and commercialisation of several BT Brightstar ventures.
john.osullivan@aQovia.com
Mustafa Arif
Mustafa Arif is the aQovia programme lead for the aQovia public-private-partnership (PPP) in Swindon. Prior to leading the 'Signal' programme, Mustafa was responsible for security solutions at aQovia’s Software and Applications programme with Cable & Wireless. Mustafa joined aQovia from Detica, where Mustafa led development of telecommunications regulatory compliance systems. Mustafa has worked on a number of projects at Logica’s Telecoms practice including the role of lead systems’ architect for Scottish Telecom. Other previous engagements include BT Wireless (now O2) and Netdecisions (now Agilisys). Mustafa has a MEng in Information Systems Engineering and an MSc in Spacecraft Technology & Satellite Communications.
mustafa.arif@aQovia.com
Gordon McHarg
Gordon McHarg leads the aQovia product and project board. Gordon has been engaged with the Information, Communication and Technology industry since the 1970’s, with experience attained through assignments across Europe, the Far East, and the USA. Gordon has benefitted from more than 10 years of management experience, joining aQovia from Orange, where he managed the Orange Business services product and project board. Gordon has previously led the planning and implementation of the BT Global Services Commercial and Operations model in China, assuring all regulatory and operating license requirements for the BT Global Services multi-billion dollar customer portfolio. Recent past successes for Gordon includes lead programme roles at Sprint, Telecom Italia and Nortel networks. Gordon holds a Masters in Management Studies from Kingston University and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management.
gordon.mcharg@aQovia.com
Glenn O’Grady
Glenn O'Grady is the aQovia architecture, systems, and process subject matter expert. Glenn holds a number of accreditations for Business Process Modelling, Transformation, and various practices, including eTOM, Six Sigma, ITIL and ARIS. Glenn has been a lead member of Operations and Transformation teams at several global telecommunication providers, including Sprint, Orange, and France Telecom. Glenn is currently leading the process design and management of content delivery for ITV, including the delivery of acquired, commissioned, video-on-demand, and syndicated content.
glenn.ogrady@aQovia.com
Owais Shaikh
Owais Shaikh leads aQovia applications, business and operational systems development and management initiatives. Owais has worked within the fixed and mobile telecommunications sector since 1987. Owais has led the launch of various innovative technologies for mobile operators, including, the first mobile content charging platform (O2 online), SMS/MMS portal (Vodafone), and over-the-air device management (Vodafone). Owais achieved 5 years of experience and success at Logica, primarily within the telecommunications practice. Owais has also been a lead member of large-scale technology and transformation programmes, including the British Telecom 21st Century Pathfinder and Steel Thread programmes. Owais holds a BSc in Economics and an MSc in Applied Computing Technology.
owais.shaikh@aQovia.com
