In the high-speed world of telecommunications, leadership defines not just the direction of a company but also its innovation, resilience, and market adaptability. Colt Technology Services, a leading network and voice connectivity provider, has meticulously built a reputation for excellence through its forward-thinking leadership team.
TLDR: Colt Technology Services owes much of its global success to a results-driven executive team. This article explores key members of Colt’s leadership, highlighting their rich backgrounds, visionary approaches, and the strategic roles they play in reshaping the telecom industry. If you’re interested in how effective leadership drives digital infrastructure innovation, this profile is worth your time. Get to know the people powering tomorrow’s connectivity today.
The Pillars Behind Colt’s Success
At the heart of Colt’s innovative momentum lies a diverse and experienced leadership team. Each executive plays a vital role in overseeing operations, strategy, customer experience, and sustainability—essential components in the modern telecom landscape.
Keri Gilder – Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Keri Gilder took the helm as Colt’s CEO in 2020 and quickly became a driving force in the company’s mission to transform the way the world connects. With a career spanning two decades across the networking and telecommunications industries, Keri’s dynamic leadership style challenges traditional norms and promotes inclusivity and innovation.
Under her guidance, Colt has prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) while expanding its global network services. She brings a unique blend of technical knowledge and business prowess, having previously held influential roles at Ciena and Hughes Network Systems.
- Background: Extensive experience in sales engineering, service provider management, and network architecture.
- Leadership Highlights: Driving sustainability initiatives, championing mental health awareness, and investing in agile network technology.
Carl Grivner – Board Member and Former CEO
Before Keri Gilder, Carl Grivner played a pivotal role as CEO between 2015 and 2020, strategically evolving Colt’s service model toward software-defined networking (SDN) and cloud integration. Although now a member of Colt’s board, his foundational contributions still influence the company’s long-term strategies.
Grivner’s international perspective—shaped by his leadership stints at companies like Pacnet and Global Crossing—helped Colt pivot toward a customer-centric approach driven by efficiency, data, and transparency.
Paula Cogan – Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
As CCO, Paula Cogan is tasked with shaping Colt’s customer relationship strategy. Her objective is to ensure that Colt is not only meeting but anticipating customer needs in a rapidly transforming digital economy.
With prior tenure at Verizon, BT, and other major firms, Paula brings strategic acumen and a vast network of global business relationships to her role. Her leadership has resulted in strategic partnerships that have significantly expanded Colt’s market outreach.
- Focus Areas: Global account growth, personalized customer journeys, and voice and data network expansions.
- Unique Contribution: Establishing Colt as a trusted advisor for enterprises undergoing digital transformation.
Suzanne Homewood – Managing Director, Sales and Partner Enablement
With an emphasis on enabling Colt’s channel partners and sales teams, Suzanne Homewood helps ensure the delivery of consistent value across touchpoints. She plays a crucial front-line role in how Colt engages with both new and existing clients globally.
Her past experience includes leadership roles at EE and Samsung, bringing a fresh and technology-forward outlook to Colt’s commercial initiatives.
Mirko Voltolini – VP Strategy and Innovation
Mirko Voltolini has more than 20 years of experience in strategy, innovation, and network transformation. Known for pioneering Colt’s shift to Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and SDN, Mirko has helped place Colt ahead of the technological curve.
His role goes beyond theoretical future-planning—under his direction, Colt has implemented radical innovations that redefine capacity, flexibility, and security in next-generation networks.
Supporting Leaders With Specialized Expertise
While the top echelons of leadership receive much of the spotlight, Colt’s success is also deeply rooted in the expertise of its functional leaders, who enable every aspect of business operations to run seamlessly.
Mark Hollman – VP Carrier Voice Services
Mark oversees Colt’s voice services across the globe, ensuring they remain cutting-edge while meeting the stringent compliance demands in multiple countries. His department is central to maintaining Colt’s reliable voice network—a core asset in today’s hybrid communication setups.
Rajiv Datta – CTO (Chief Technology Officer)
Rajiv Datta’s technological guidance helps drive Colt’s robust digital infrastructure. With cloud-native principles and a zero-trust security mindset, his team is advancing Colt’s capabilities in edge computing, 5G integration, and real-time data analytics.
Sally Haywood – Director of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Sally steers Colt’s environmental and social governance strategies. From reducing the company’s carbon footprint to enhancing employee well-being, her leadership reflects Colt’s holistic approach to long-term sustainability.
A Culture of Collaboration and Empowerment
What truly sets Colt’s leadership apart is its unified commitment to internal culture. Colt is known for maintaining an open-dialogue environment, which encourages innovation from all levels of the organization.
Executives often take part in cross-functional workshops, DE&I webinars, and employee-driven innovation showcases. This collaborative culture fuels agility and responsiveness, essential traits in such a rapidly evolving industry.
Colt’s Leadership Vision for the Future
The landscape of telecommunications is undergoing seismic changes. From the rollout of 5G and edge computing to the demand for low-latency, high-capacity networks, the expectations on providers have never been higher. Colt’s leadership understands this and is steering the company toward:
- Cloud-First Infrastructure: Investing heavily in seamless cloud transitions for enterprises.
- Smart Network Automation: Embedding AI and predictive analytics for real-time responsiveness.
- Inclusive Leadership: Advocating gender diversity in tech and empowering minority voices within the organization.
These priorities are not merely lip service—they reflect actionable goals embedded in Colt’s annual reports and strategic initiatives. From intelligent networks to sustainable growth, Colt’s leadership is orchestrating a bold symphony of change.
Conclusion
Colt Technology Services is not just a company; it’s a case study in modern business leadership. By blending technical excellence with visionary foresight, Colt’s executive team is setting a new standard for what it means to lead in the telecom industry. Their collaborative, compassionate, and customer-first approach is not only driving revenue but also preparing Colt for the next generation of global connectivity.
In an industry often dominated by speed and scale, Colt’s leadership reminds us that people remain the most powerful form of capital. And when these people lead with integrity, expertise, and vision, the future looks not just connected—but empowered.
