John Edwards - Co-Founder / Non-Executive Director

Q: Where is John based?

John is based in Grüningen, Switzerland and can operate in on-site , hybrid , and remote work models.

Q: What languages does John speak?

John speaks the following languages: English (Native), German (Intermediate) .

Q: How many years of experience does John have?

John has at least 36 years of experience. During this time, John has worked in at least 15 different roles and for 14 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 5 months . Note that John may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is John's latest experience?

John's most recent position is Co-Founder / Non-Executive Director at GRP Energy .

Q: What companies has John worked for in recent years?

In recent years, John has worked for GRP Energy , Greenlion GmbH , Jurassic Fibre , and SGFE .

Q: Which industries is John most experienced in?

John is most experienced in industries like Telecommunication , Media and Entertainment , and Energy . John also has some experience in Agriculture , Professional Services , and Banking and Finance .

Q: Which business areas is John most experienced in?

John is most experienced in business areas like Strategy , Finance , and Investments and M&A . John also has some experience in Operations , Marketing , and Product Development .

Q: Which industries has John worked in recently?

John has recently worked in industries like Professional Services , Energy , and Telecommunication .

Q: Which business areas has John worked in recently?

John has recently worked in business areas like Strategy , Finance , and Product Development .

Recommended expert

Grüningen, Switzerland

Experience

Mar 2024 - Nov 2025

1 year 9 months

Zürich, Switzerland

Co-Founder / Non-Executive Director

GRP Energy

Co-founded battery storage business targeting residential, commercial & industrial, and utility markets in Netherlands and UK
Developed UK and Netherlands market entry strategies based on competitive analysis and regulatory assessment
Led "Storage as a Service" business model development to complement core hardware distribution business line
Created comprehensive financial models and investment cases for capital raising initiatives
Provided board-level strategic guidance and governance oversight

Jan 2023 - Mar 2024

1 year 3 months

Zürich, Switzerland

Strategic Consultant

Greenlion GmbH

Independent strategic consulting practice specialising in telecommunications, infrastructure, and operational transformation. Portfolio approach combining direct client engagements and associate partnerships with established consulting firms (Cambridge Management Consulting, Prism Business Consulting)
UK Fibre M&A due diligence (2024, with Cambridge MC): strategic and financial analysis supporting PE fund investment decision in full-fibre broadband operator; market assessment, operational due diligence, and financial model validation
GRP Energy (2023-2024): start-up advisory support including strategy development, business model design, and market entry planning for battery storage business
Transport for Wales (2023, with Prism Consulting): expert review of infrastructure commercialisation business plan for fibre optic assets within £5B+ railway modernisation programme; strategic evaluation of telecommunications infrastructure monetisation opportunities
Jurassic Fibre (Jan-Sep 2023): conducted M&A feasibility analysis and due diligence for potential acquisition target; developed comprehensive disaster recovery planning and business continuity framework; led ESG and sustainability strategy development and implementation aligned with institutional investor requirements

May 2021 - Dec 2022

1 year 8 months

Exeter, United Kingdom

Managing Director

Jurassic Fibre

Built and scaled customer-facing operations for full-fibre broadband infrastructure rollout targeting rural and underserved UK markets
Established ground-zero operations function covering sales, marketing, installations, and customer service for PE-backed fibre infrastructure scale-up during rapid growth phase
Achieved 4x customer acquisition growth in 6 months through operational optimisation, process improvement, and sales effectiveness initiatives
Built data management function from scratch, introduced operational KPI dashboards, and developed regulatory and strategic partnerships capability

Jan 2017 - Apr 2021

4 years 4 months

London, United Kingdom

Hybrid

Partner

SGFE

Partner in strategic consulting firm specialising in SME business owners using a hybrid consulting and coaching delivery model and proprietary frameworks for growth acceleration
Addressed strategic blockers to growth in owner-managed businesses through structured diagnosis and practical implementation support

Jan 2015 - Dec 2017

3 years

London, United Kingdom

Investment Consultant

Armstrong Energy Limited

Led investment projects in renewable energy infrastructure covering strategic planning, business modelling, fundraising, board representation, and project development
Successfully raised £6.5m of HNWI financing for start-up infrastructure businesses in battery storage and waste-to-fuels processing technologies
Developed comprehensive investment cases including Capex/Opex projections, NPV/IRR analysis, sensitivity modelling, and risk assessment
Provided board representation and strategic guidance for portfolio companies
Conducted due diligence and transaction structuring for infrastructure investments

Jan 2010 - Dec 2014

5 years

Switzerland

CEO / COO

FIT Group

Led operational and financial turnaround of a $300m Brazilian forestry investment
Raised $50m+ fresh investment capital through structured negotiations with institutional investors across Switzerland and international markets
Led $60m balance sheet cleanup and legal reorganisation to stabilise financial position
Implemented cost reduction programme achieving $15m+ annual savings
Recruited and managed a new local management team and oversaw waste biomass processing facility and sawmill operations

Jan 2006 - Dec 2010

5 years

Sofia, Bulgaria

Chief Operating Officer

CableTel

Transformed Bulgaria's largest cable TV & broadband provider from negative EBITDA to over 30% operating margins within 12 months
Delivered 13% YoY revenue growth and 50% cash flow increase through improved commercial performance
Reduced Capex by 30% while maintaining network performance through disciplined investment prioritisation
Led €50m PIK financing fund-raise and secured board approval for €100m+ acquisitions across the Balkan region
Coordinated cross-border expansion in Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, and Macedonia and managed regulators and municipal authorities
Led network expansion and upgrade decisions using least-cost analysis and infrastructure sharing strategies

Jan 2004 - Dec 2008

5 years

Zürich, Switzerland

Managing Partner

Last Mile Communications (LMC)

Established and led the European arm of a boutique consulting practice specialising in transaction support and management advisory for the telecommunications sector
Advised PE/infrastructure funds and strategic investors/operators on commercial due diligence, operational assessment, and multi-year financial planning across Central and Eastern Europe
Identified M&A targets, supported transaction processes, and conducted market entry feasibility studies
Provided embedded management support for portfolio companies transitioning to full operational roles

Jan 2003 - Dec 2004

2 years

London, United Kingdom

Commercial & Finance Director

NTL

Led commercial and financial functions for the London operation of the UK's largest cable TV and broadband provider
Secured board approval for a £30m network upgrade programme through detailed business case development
Led organisational restructuring to improve operational efficiency and reduce cost base
Delivered 13% YoY revenue uplift, 50% cash flow increase, and 30% Capex reduction through disciplined capital allocation

Jan 2001 - Dec 2002

2 years

Zürich, Switzerland

Director of Internet

Cablecom

Ran the Internet business unit of Switzerland's largest cable TV provider during a critical strategic pivot to broadband
Replaced a loss-making ISP portal-content model with a highly profitable broadband access strategy
Increased revenue from $40m to $63m and customer base from 60k to 135k in 12 months
Led a $6m ISP platform replacement and upgrade including technology selection and vendor evaluation

Jan 1996 - Dec 2001

6 years

Hook, United Kingdom

Various Director & Head of Roles

NTL

Strategy Director (1999-2001): Led corporate strategy development and market positioning; developed strategic initiatives for expansion; coordinated cross-functional strategic planning
Head of Product Marketing (1997-1999): Led product strategy and go-to-market planning for TV, telephony, and internet services; launched impulse pay-per-view, triple-play bundles, subscription-free internet access, distance-free telephony tariff; increased market penetration from mid-20% to over 40%
Head of Content & Programming (1996-1997): Developed content strategy for cable TV; negotiated supply terms with Sky, MTV, Turner, Discovery, Flextech; established programming acquisition framework and commercial relationships

Jan 1996 - Dec 1997

2 years

London, United Kingdom

Director of Programming

Saravision

Developed programming strategy and implementation plan for content acquisition at a start-up wireless cable operator in Saudi Arabia
Established and managed joint venture initiatives with major US programming providers

Jan 1995 - Dec 1996

2 years

Manchester, United Kingdom

Head of Business Development & Multimedia

Nynex UK

Led an EU-funded exemplar project for new broadband interactive services
Created the Northern Interconnect joint venture between four cable operators to develop an integrated regional network

Jan 1993 - Dec 1995

3 years

Manchester, United Kingdom

Operations Manager

Pactel UK

Led corporate team responsible for sales, marketing, customer service, IT, and training at a UK cable start-up
Managed commercial relationships with TV content suppliers and achieved the highest growth in customer penetration in the UK cable industry

Jan 1989 - Dec 1991

3 years

London, United Kingdom

New Issues Syndication & Eurobond Trading Manager

DKB International

Managed a secondary Euroyen trading book with $100m exposure at the UK securities trading arm of Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank
Oversaw numerous new issues underwritings and the primary trading book

Industry Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Telecommunication, Media and Entertainment, Energy, Agriculture, Professional Services, and Banking and Finance.

Telecommunication

Media and Entertainment

Energy

Agriculture

Professional Services

Banking and Finance

Business Area Experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Strategy, Finance, Investments and M&A, Operations, Marketing, and Product Development.

Strategy

Finance

Investments and M&A

Operations

Marketing

Product Development

Summary

C-level operator, strategist and advisor with 35+ years of leadership driving high-growth businesses through critical scaling phases, operational turnarounds, and market expansions across capital-intensive telecommunications and renewable energy sectors.

Core expertise: Taking challenger businesses from concept to operational reality by combining strategic insight with operational execution. Proven track record building organisational infrastructure that enables sustainable scaling - teams, governance, culture, processes, and systems - for businesses founded by technical or sales-driven entrepreneurs.

Key achievements include: 4x customer acquisition growth at Jurassic Fibre in 6 months; transforming Bulgaria's largest cable operator from negative EBITDA to 30%+ margins in 12 months; growing Cablecom from 60k to 135k customers and $40m to $63m revenue in 12 months; structuring €200m+ in infrastructure financing across career.

Skills

Strategic Leadership
Strategic Impact & Market Repositioning
Business Model Design & Proposition Development
Strategic Planning & Execution
Strategic M&a & Post-merger Integration
Corporate Development
Operational Excellence
Operational Scaling / Organisational Design / Governance
Turnaround Management (Multiple 30%+ Margin Improvements)
P&l Management & Financial Optimisation
Change Management & Organisational Transformation
Performance Management & Operational Metrics Design
Capital Discipline & Investment Optimisation
Financial & Operational Modelling (Operational Drivers, Npv, Irr, Scenario Analysis)
Fundraising & Financing Structuring (€200m+ Career Total)
Performance Metrics & Management Reporting
Commercial Due Diligence
Telecommunications: Fibre, Cable, Broadband, Satellite
Renewable Energy: Battery Storage, Waste-to-energy
Pe-backed Scale-ups & Challenger Operating Models
Emerging & Developed Markets
Regulatory & Stakeholder Management

Languages

English

Native

German

Intermediate

Education

Oct 1989 - Jun 1991

London Business School

MBA · Business Administration · London, United Kingdom

Oct 1982 - Jun 1985

University Of Cambridge

BA (Hons) · Law · Cambridge, United Kingdom

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 15

Experience in Telecommunication 21 y

Avg length 3 y 1 m

Longest experience 5 y 11 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 3 (United Kingdom, Switzerland, Bulgaria)

Primary country United Kingdom

Expertise

Recent roles Co-Founder / Non-Executive Director, Strategic Consultant, Managing Director

Main industries Telecommunication, Media and Entertainment, Energy

Main business areas Strategy, Finance, Investments and M&A

Qualifications

Highest degree Master

Profile

Created

January 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is John based?

John is based in Grüningen, Switzerland and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.

What languages does John speak?

John speaks the following languages: English (Native), German (Intermediate).

How many years of experience does John have?

John has at least 36 years of experience. During this time, John has worked in at least 15 different roles and for 14 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 5 months. Note that John may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would John be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, John would be well-suited for roles such as: Co-Founder / Non-Executive Director, Strategic Consultant, Managing Director.

What is John's latest experience?

John's most recent position is Co-Founder / Non-Executive Director at GRP Energy.

What companies has John worked for in recent years?

In recent years, John has worked for GRP Energy, Greenlion GmbH, Jurassic Fibre, and SGFE.

Which industries is John most experienced in?

John is most experienced in industries like Telecommunication, Media and Entertainment, and Energy. John also has some experience in Agriculture, Professional Services, and Banking and Finance.

Which business areas is John most experienced in?

John is most experienced in business areas like Strategy, Finance, and Investments and M&A. John also has some experience in Operations, Marketing, and Product Development.

Which industries has John worked in recently?

John has recently worked in industries like Professional Services, Energy, and Telecommunication.

Which business areas has John worked in recently?

John has recently worked in business areas like Strategy, Finance, and Product Development.

What is John's education?

John holds a Master in Business Administration from London Business School and a Bachelor in Law from University Of Cambridge.

What is the availability of John?

John is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of John?

John's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.