A titan of the telecommunication industry is leaving his current role. Ben Roberts, the Group Chief Technology and Innovation Officer of Liquid Telecommunication is leaving the company. Ben who joined as Liquid Telcom’s employee number three and the first Engineer at the Wholesale division of Liquid Telecommunications/Econet Group has served the pan African company for over 2 decades.
“Well, after 22 years, it is with immense excitement, and some sadness, that it is time to move on from this great company Liquid Intelligent Technologies. I’m proud to have built and lead great teams, and with the great work from those teams, built great products, and perhaps the greatest network in Africa,” Ben Roberts wrote on his LinkedIn.
In the post this evening, Ben took the chance to thank those who he has worked with during this period and especially the Liquid Intelligent Technologies CEO.
“Let me give a special shout out to Nic Rudnick who has been my boss and leader for most of those 22 years and to Kevin Kinnear, the godfather of our pan African fibre network, and the guy who taught me the Latin phrase “ex Africa semper aliquid novi“, Ben added.
Ben Roberts Liquid Journey
Ben Roberts joined Liquid Telcom in September of 2002 serving as the Voice Network Architect. For 3 years between 2004 and 2007 he was the CTO Wholesale Voice, Satellite and Data. Thereafter, at a time the company was pivoting from Satellite to Fibre, he became the CTO – Group and International Networks, a position he held for almost 7 years.
It was in 2013 that he moved to Kenya. This was after Liquid acquired 5 companies in East Africa and Ben was appointed the Acting Managing Director, Liquid Telecom Kenya. He served in the role for 6 months.
For 4 years and 6 months between November 2012 to April 2017, he served as Group Director of Network Strategy. During his tenure, Liquid Group actively engaged with global technology communities and industry forums, including the Africa Peering Forum, ISOC, IETF, and ITU. This strategic involvement has significantly contributed to Liquid’s position as a leading technology company in Africa.
Ben has been the chair of the Board of Directors at Liquid Telecommunications Kenya, from April 2017 to date. He also served as CEO Liquid Telcom for 3 years, a period which saw Liquid Kenya achieve substantial growth, with double-digit year-on-year expansion. No doubt he has played a huge role in the industry that has transformed immensely in those 22 years.
