Howard Watson on AI and telco foundations

Appointed February 2016 as chief technology and information officer and became chief technology officer in March 2021. In September 2022, Howard’s role expanded to put security at the core of the business to accelerate BT’s ambition to become the world’s most trusted connector of people, devices and machines and become the Chief Security and Networks Officer.

Howard was formerly chief architect and managing director, global IT systems and led the technical teams behind the launch of BT Sport in 2013. Howard joined BT in 2011 and has 30 years of telecoms experience having spent time at Telewest Communications (now Virgin Media) and Cartesian, a telecommunications consultancy and software company.

20 years as a chief analyst and research director covering the telecoms sector with a focus on operator business models, transformation and strategies for developing new revenue streams.

Joanne has been covering telecoms and IT as an editor and journalist since the mid-90s. Prior to joining TM Forum, Joanne was a writer and editor in the smart manufacturing sector and is interested in how new technologies are impacting business ecosystems.