Board of Directors
John Lazar
Chief Executive Officer
John Lazar joined Metaswitch in 1987 as a software engineer, and has worked in several different divisions in the company, covering both communication/networking and Internet applications. John was a key member of the founding team that established the Metaswitch Carrier Systems business, overseeing the organization's growth from initial market entry to a market leadership position with more than 600 customers worldwide.
In his role as CEO, John is committed to providing the products and services that meet the evolving business models and needs of network operators.
John graduated from the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, with an MSc in Computation and a DPhil in History. His interests include soccer, music and art - and spending time with his family.
John Lazar
Chief Executive Officer
John Lazar joined Metaswitch in 1987 as a software engineer, and has worked in several different divisions in the company, covering both communication/networking and Internet applications. John was a key member of the founding team that established the Metaswitch Carrier Systems business, overseeing the organization's growth from initial market entry to a market leadership position with more than 600 customers worldwide.
In his role as CEO, John is committed to providing the products and services that meet the evolving business models and needs of network operators.
John graduated from the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, with an MSc in Computation and a DPhil in History. His interests include soccer, music and art - and spending time with his family.
Ben Ball
Director
Mr. Ball is a Founding Partner of Francisco Partners and focuses primarily on investments in the communications and hardware systems sectors. Mr. Ball serves on the board of directors of Metaswitch Networks, Electrical Components International, Mitel Networks, WatchGuard and WebTrends. Prior to founding Francisco Partners in August 1999, Mr. Ball was a Vice President with TA Associates where he led private equity investments in the software, semiconductor and communications segments. Previously, he worked for Genstar Capital LLC, a middle-market LBO firm, where he focused on investments in the semiconductor, capital equipment and communications industries. Earlier in his career, Mr. Ball worked for AEA Investors, a New York-based private equity firm, and also for the consulting firm of Bain & Company.
Ben Ball
Director
Mr. Ball is a Founding Partner of Francisco Partners and focuses primarily on investments in the communications and hardware systems sectors. Mr. Ball serves on the board of directors of Metaswitch Networks, Electrical Components International, Mitel Networks, WatchGuard and WebTrends. Prior to founding Francisco Partners in August 1999, Mr. Ball was a Vice President with TA Associates where he led private equity investments in the software, semiconductor and communications segments. Previously, he worked for Genstar Capital LLC, a middle-market LBO firm, where he focused on investments in the semiconductor, capital equipment and communications industries. Earlier in his career, Mr. Ball worked for AEA Investors, a New York-based private equity firm, and also for the consulting firm of Bain & Company.
Bill Coughran
Director
Dr Coughran is a Partner at Sequoia Capital and was formerly the Senior Vice President of Engineering at Google, where he helped develop Chrome, YouTube, maps and Google search. He brings more than 20 years' experience building highly scalable computer systems and cloud-based services. Before Google, Dr Coughran co-founded Entrisphere, a telecom equipment vendor. Earlier, he was Vice President of Bell Labs' Computing Sciences Research Center. He has served on the faculty at Stanford and Duke Universities. Dr Coughran also sits on the board of Clearwell Systems.
Bill Coughran
Director
Dr Coughran is a Partner at Sequoia Capital and was formerly the Senior Vice President of Engineering at Google, where he helped develop Chrome, YouTube, maps and Google search. He brings more than 20 years' experience building highly scalable computer systems and cloud-based services. Before Google, Dr Coughran co-founded Entrisphere, a telecom equipment vendor. Earlier, he was Vice President of Bell Labs' Computing Sciences Research Center. He has served on the faculty at Stanford and Duke Universities. Dr Coughran also sits on the board of Clearwell Systems.
Deep Shah
Director
Deep is a Partner with Francisco Partners, and operates from FP’s London office where he is responsible for FP's European activities. In addition to Metaswitch, he currently serves on the board of directors of Attenti, C-MAC MicroTechnology, Cybit, Dextrys and Discrete Wireless. Earlier in his career, Deep worked at Morgan Stanley in both their Mergers and Acquisitions group and the Princes Gate Investors private equity fund in London, where he was responsible for the identification, evaluation and execution of transactions in a variety of industries, including information technology. Deep holds an M.A. in Economics from the University of Cambridge where he graduated with First Class Honours.
Deep Shah
Director
Deep is a Partner with Francisco Partners, and operates from FP’s London office where he is responsible for FP's European activities. In addition to Metaswitch, he currently serves on the board of directors of Attenti, C-MAC MicroTechnology, Cybit, Dextrys and Discrete Wireless. Earlier in his career, Deep worked at Morgan Stanley in both their Mergers and Acquisitions group and the Princes Gate Investors private equity fund in London, where he was responsible for the identification, evaluation and execution of transactions in a variety of industries, including information technology. Deep holds an M.A. in Economics from the University of Cambridge where he graduated with First Class Honours.
Jeff Allen
Director
Mr. Allen holds the role of Audit Committee Chair at Metaswitch. He recently served as Executive Vice President of Business Operations for NetApp, Inc. and as Chief Financial Officer from 1996 to 2002. He brings extensive telecom and computing industry experience from Bay Networks, SynOptics and a 17-year career with Hewlett-Packard. He currently serves on several boards, including NetApp.
Jeff Allen
Director
Mr. Allen holds the role of Audit Committee Chair at Metaswitch. He recently served as Executive Vice President of Business Operations for NetApp, Inc. and as Chief Financial Officer from 1996 to 2002. He brings extensive telecom and computing industry experience from Bay Networks, SynOptics and a 17-year career with Hewlett-Packard. He currently serves on several boards, including NetApp.
Jim Goetz
Director
Jim is a Partner at Sequoia Capital focusing on cloud, mobile and enterprise investments. Jim currently serves on the board of Admob, Appirio, Barracuda, Clearwell, eMeter, Jive, Metaswitch, Nimble, Palo Alto and Widgetbox. Prior to joining Sequoia Capital in 2004, Jim served as a General Partner at Accel Partners where he led the investments in Entrisphere (ERIC), Peribit (JNPR), RGB, and Rhapsody (BRCD) and was part of the team responsible for BroadJump (MOTV), Timetra (ALA) and Topspin (CSCO). Earlier, Jim was a Founder of VitalSigns (LU) where he went on to serve as VP/GM of the VitalSoft division of Lucent. Prior to VitalSigns, Jim was the Vice President of Network Management for Bay Networks. Prior to Bay and Synoptics, he held various product and marketing positions at AT&T, AT&T Bell Labs, and Digital Equipment. Jim has a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and an MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.
Jim Goetz
Director
Jim is a Partner at Sequoia Capital focusing on cloud, mobile and enterprise investments. Jim currently serves on the board of Admob, Appirio, Barracuda, Clearwell, eMeter, Jive, Metaswitch, Nimble, Palo Alto and Widgetbox. Prior to joining Sequoia Capital in 2004, Jim served as a General Partner at Accel Partners where he led the investments in Entrisphere (ERIC), Peribit (JNPR), RGB, and Rhapsody (BRCD) and was part of the team responsible for BroadJump (MOTV), Timetra (ALA) and Topspin (CSCO). Earlier, Jim was a Founder of VitalSigns (LU) where he went on to serve as VP/GM of the VitalSoft division of Lucent. Prior to VitalSigns, Jim was the Vice President of Network Management for Bay Networks. Prior to Bay and Synoptics, he held various product and marketing positions at AT&T, AT&T Bell Labs, and Digital Equipment. Jim has a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and an MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.
Kevin DeNuccio
Director
Kevin DeNuccio joined Metaswitch in February 2010 after serving for more than a year as an independent board member. He transitioned into the CEO role in order to execute on the company’s long-term strategic plans for global growth based on the timeless core values of quality engineering, reliability, exceptional support and innovation. In June 2012, John Lazar returned to the role of CEO while Kevin continues to assess strategic initiatives that can complement Metaswitch's core business plan and product portfolio.
From 2001 to 2008, Kevin was president and chief executive officer of Redback Networks, during which time he oversaw its transformation into a major edge router vendor and acquisition by Ericsson for $2.1 billion. Prior to leading Redback Networks, he was the senior vice president of worldwide service provider operations at Cisco Systems. In this role, he was responsible for all field activities in the service provider marketplace, a business he grew from $500 million to $4 billion in revenue with over 4,000 employees globally. During his tenure at Cisco, Kevin also managed worldwide field operations, including all sales and engineering support organizations.
Prior to joining Cisco, Kevin was the founder, president and chief executive officer of Bell Atlantic Network Integration, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Bell Atlantic (now Verizon Communications), with responsibility for corporate strategy and operations. He has also held senior management positions at both Unisys Corporation and Wang Laboratories as vice president in their network integration and worldwide channel partner businesses.
Kevin received his finance degree from Northeastern University and is a graduate of the MBA program at Columbia University.
Kevin DeNuccio
Director
Kevin DeNuccio joined Metaswitch in February 2010 after serving for more than a year as an independent board member. He transitioned into the CEO role in order to execute on the company’s long-term strategic plans for global growth based on the timeless core values of quality engineering, reliability, exceptional support and innovation. In June 2012, John Lazar returned to the role of CEO while Kevin continues to assess strategic initiatives that can complement Metaswitch's core business plan and product portfolio.
From 2001 to 2008, Kevin was president and chief executive officer of Redback Networks, during which time he oversaw its transformation into a major edge router vendor and acquisition by Ericsson for $2.1 billion. Prior to leading Redback Networks, he was the senior vice president of worldwide service provider operations at Cisco Systems. In this role, he was responsible for all field activities in the service provider marketplace, a business he grew from $500 million to $4 billion in revenue with over 4,000 employees globally. During his tenure at Cisco, Kevin also managed worldwide field operations, including all sales and engineering support organizations.
Prior to joining Cisco, Kevin was the founder, president and chief executive officer of Bell Atlantic Network Integration, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Bell Atlantic (now Verizon Communications), with responsibility for corporate strategy and operations. He has also held senior management positions at both Unisys Corporation and Wang Laboratories as vice president in their network integration and worldwide channel partner businesses.
Kevin received his finance degree from Northeastern University and is a graduate of the MBA program at Columbia University.
Ian S Ferguson
Employee Benefit Trust Chairman
Ian S Ferguson founded Data Connection in 1981, and has led the company, initially as Chairman and CEO, and from December 1998 to February 2010 as Chairman, through to its current success as Metaswitch Networks. In his current role as Chairman of the Trustees of the company's Employee Benefit Trust, he oversees the Trust's interest in the company and represents the Trust's and employees' interests to the Board.
As a manager, accountant, salesman and leader, he believes in ability, effort, reward, people - and fun. Above all, the company has developed under his guidance to
- create commercial success and share the reward equitably
- do the difficult things - well
- concentrate on people and their development
- be an open, unpoliced, responsible, communicative society
- continue and thrive with a senior management team committed to stable, long-term growth.
Prior to founding the company, Ian spent eleven years with IBM UK, where he played a major role in the late 1970's transition of IBM from a large mainframe, list price company to a major network provider offering more flexible terms and conditions. He is also actively involved in a UK government initiative to improve the effectiveness and relevance of the national education and training system to meet both the aspirations of young people and the needs of employers. His significant contributions in this area were recognized by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005 with the award of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
Ian S Ferguson
Employee Benefit Trust Chairman
Ian S Ferguson founded Data Connection in 1981, and has led the company, initially as Chairman and CEO, and from December 1998 to February 2010 as Chairman, through to its current success as Metaswitch Networks. In his current role as Chairman of the Trustees of the company's Employee Benefit Trust, he oversees the Trust's interest in the company and represents the Trust's and employees' interests to the Board.
As a manager, accountant, salesman and leader, he believes in ability, effort, reward, people - and fun. Above all, the company has developed under his guidance to
- create commercial success and share the reward equitably
- do the difficult things - well
- concentrate on people and their development
- be an open, unpoliced, responsible, communicative society
- continue and thrive with a senior management team committed to stable, long-term growth.
Prior to founding the company, Ian spent eleven years with IBM UK, where he played a major role in the late 1970's transition of IBM from a large mainframe, list price company to a major network provider offering more flexible terms and conditions. He is also actively involved in a UK government initiative to improve the effectiveness and relevance of the national education and training system to meet both the aspirations of young people and the needs of employers. His significant contributions in this area were recognized by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005 with the award of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
Graeme MacArthur
Executive Vice President
Graeme continues his passion of building a customer-centric organization that he demonstrated as leader of the company's Internet Applications Division, a position he held from 2000 until the merger of the softswitching and applications divisions in 2007. In that role, he transformed a technology-oriented business unit into an industry leader in telecom applications, in the process establishing relationships with many of the world's largest service providers.
Graeme joined the company in 1985 after gaining a BSc in Computer Science from Glasgow University. Similar to the majority of the company's senior management team, Graeme worked his way through engineering and customer support roles on the way to establishing himself as a world-class business leader.
Outside of work, Graeme is a passionate golfer and enjoys living within easy driving distance of some of Scotland's most glorious links courses, including Carnoustie and St. Andrews.
Graeme MacArthur
Executive Vice President
Graeme continues his passion of building a customer-centric organization that he demonstrated as leader of the company's Internet Applications Division, a position he held from 2000 until the merger of the softswitching and applications divisions in 2007. In that role, he transformed a technology-oriented business unit into an industry leader in telecom applications, in the process establishing relationships with many of the world's largest service providers.
Graeme joined the company in 1985 after gaining a BSc in Computer Science from Glasgow University. Similar to the majority of the company's senior management team, Graeme worked his way through engineering and customer support roles on the way to establishing himself as a world-class business leader.
Outside of work, Graeme is a passionate golfer and enjoys living within easy driving distance of some of Scotland's most glorious links courses, including Carnoustie and St. Andrews.