Management
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.
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.
Martin Taylor | Chief Technical Officer
Martin Taylor has spent over 20 years in the telecom and network equipment industries, with diverse experience in product marketing, engineering, technology planning and business development. Since joining Metaswitch in 2004, he has led product strategy in hosted business services, web services, APIs, UIs, software-based SBC and unified messaging, plus the evolution of the product line for both IMS and pre-IMS networks. Martin is driving high-level strategy towards NFV and SDN with near-term deliverables of the industry’s first virtualizable carrier-class SBC and the industry’s first implementation of IMS core functions in a cloud environment.
Martin's prior experience includes the role of founding CTO at CopperCom, where he was widely recognized as an early pioneer in Voice Over Broadband for his leadership of the ATM Forum standards work on Loop Emulation. In previous roles at Madge Networks and at Marconi, he was instrumental in significant business successes in areas such as Token Ring switching and passive optical networking.
Martin is a graduate of the University of Cambridge, England with a degree in Engineering. He enjoys skiing, golf, fly fishing and fine wine.
Martin Taylor | Chief Technical Officer
Martin Taylor has spent over 20 years in the telecom and network equipment industries, with diverse experience in product marketing, engineering, technology planning and business development. Since joining Metaswitch in 2004, he has led product strategy in hosted business services, web services, APIs, UIs, software-based SBC and unified messaging, plus the evolution of the product line for both IMS and pre-IMS networks. Martin is driving high-level strategy towards NFV and SDN with near-term deliverables of the industry’s first virtualizable carrier-class SBC and the industry’s first implementation of IMS core functions in a cloud environment.
Martin's prior experience includes the role of founding CTO at CopperCom, where he was widely recognized as an early pioneer in Voice Over Broadband for his leadership of the ATM Forum standards work on Loop Emulation. In previous roles at Madge Networks and at Marconi, he was instrumental in significant business successes in areas such as Token Ring switching and passive optical networking.
Martin is a graduate of the University of Cambridge, England with a degree in Engineering. He enjoys skiing, golf, fly fishing and fine wine.
Tom Cronan | Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Cronan joined Metaswitch in 2011, with more than twenty years experience from publicly traded and privately held technology companies. Most recently he served as chief financial officer of Aviat Networks, Inc., a leader in wireless transmission solutions.
From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Cronan served as the senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer at Redback Networks Inc., where he created a period of sustained revenue growth and, ultimately, the sale of Redback in 2007 to Ericsson for $2.1 billion. Mr. Cronan has also served as the chief financial officer at AeroScount, Inc. and Ooma, Inc., acted as in-house legal counsel for high technology companies such as IBM, and OpenTV, and as special counsel in the Technology Licensing group at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati.
Mr. Cronan holds a B.S. from Muhlenberg College and a J.D. from Fordham Law School.
Tom Cronan | Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Cronan joined Metaswitch in 2011, with more than twenty years experience from publicly traded and privately held technology companies. Most recently he served as chief financial officer of Aviat Networks, Inc., a leader in wireless transmission solutions.
From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Cronan served as the senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer at Redback Networks Inc., where he created a period of sustained revenue growth and, ultimately, the sale of Redback in 2007 to Ericsson for $2.1 billion. Mr. Cronan has also served as the chief financial officer at AeroScount, Inc. and Ooma, Inc., acted as in-house legal counsel for high technology companies such as IBM, and OpenTV, and as special counsel in the Technology Licensing group at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati.
Mr. Cronan holds a B.S. from Muhlenberg College and a J.D. from Fordham Law School.
Steve Gleave | Senior Vice President, Marketing
Steve joined Metaswitch in the fall of 2009, bringing more than 20 years of experience selling, supporting and marketing voice and communication products. At Metaswitch, Steve is responsible for all outbound field marketing activities for the Carrier Systems Division. He has previously performed senior marketing roles at Endace, SS8 Networks, net.com (now NET), Ubiquity Software, Jetstream Communications, Premisys Communications and Newbridge Networks.
Born in the UK, Steve graduated from Bristol University in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and has lived and worked in the USA since 1996. He has a young family, watches and plays just about every sport, has an unhealthy addiction to American Idol and is aiming to run 10 marathons in the next ten years.
Steve Gleave | Senior Vice President, Marketing
Steve joined Metaswitch in the fall of 2009, bringing more than 20 years of experience selling, supporting and marketing voice and communication products. At Metaswitch, Steve is responsible for all outbound field marketing activities for the Carrier Systems Division. He has previously performed senior marketing roles at Endace, SS8 Networks, net.com (now NET), Ubiquity Software, Jetstream Communications, Premisys Communications and Newbridge Networks.
Born in the UK, Steve graduated from Bristol University in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and has lived and worked in the USA since 1996. He has a young family, watches and plays just about every sport, has an unhealthy addiction to American Idol and is aiming to run 10 marathons in the next ten years.
Carol Copland | Chief Legal Officer
Carol Copland joined Metaswitch in October 2009.
Carol began her career at Linklaters where she worked as a commercial and regulatory lawyer in the Technology, Media and Telecoms team for about five years enjoying stints in Hong Kong and on secondment as Technology Counsel, EMEA for JP Morgan Chase. She then left private practice to go in-house as general commercial/IP lawyer at English Heritage and then in 2004 moved to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority where she became Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs.
Carol graduated from Oxford University with a degree in English before going on to qualify as a solicitor. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
Carol Copland | Chief Legal Officer
Carol Copland joined Metaswitch in October 2009.
Carol began her career at Linklaters where she worked as a commercial and regulatory lawyer in the Technology, Media and Telecoms team for about five years enjoying stints in Hong Kong and on secondment as Technology Counsel, EMEA for JP Morgan Chase. She then left private practice to go in-house as general commercial/IP lawyer at English Heritage and then in 2004 moved to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority where she became Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs.
Carol graduated from Oxford University with a degree in English before going on to qualify as a solicitor. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
Paul Drew | Senior Vice President, Support
Paul Drew has been with Metaswitch for nearly 18 years, and currently runs all support for the Carrier Systems Division. Paul was a member of the team that founded the Metaswitch Carrier Systems Division and has fulfilled a number of different roles, including running support for our strategic customers, establishing the professional services and training groups, director of product management with responsibility for setting product direction, and setting up and running the Metaswitch partner program.
Paul graduated from Oxford University with a BA in Mathematics and an MSc in Statistics. When not at work, Paul spends his time climbing, mountain biking and skiing.
Paul Drew | Senior Vice President, Support
Paul Drew has been with Metaswitch for nearly 18 years, and currently runs all support for the Carrier Systems Division. Paul was a member of the team that founded the Metaswitch Carrier Systems Division and has fulfilled a number of different roles, including running support for our strategic customers, establishing the professional services and training groups, director of product management with responsibility for setting product direction, and setting up and running the Metaswitch partner program.
Paul graduated from Oxford University with a BA in Mathematics and an MSc in Statistics. When not at work, Paul spends his time climbing, mountain biking and skiing.
Dave Reekie | Senior Vice President, Engineering
As one of the small group of talented engineers that designed the Metaswitch system architecture, Dave combines detailed product knowledge with rigorous project management skills. His engineering and management abilities have been proven over his 15+ years with the company, as he has consistently delivered complex, challenging projects across a broad range of telecommunications technologies including SS7, SMTP, LDAP/X.500, and SNA.
Dave graduated with a first class degree in Engineering from Cambridge University.
Outside of work, Dave competes in both mountain bike and sail-boat races, and somehow manages to find time to relax by snowboarding, unicycling - and gardening.
Dave Reekie | Senior Vice President, Engineering
As one of the small group of talented engineers that designed the Metaswitch system architecture, Dave combines detailed product knowledge with rigorous project management skills. His engineering and management abilities have been proven over his 15+ years with the company, as he has consistently delivered complex, challenging projects across a broad range of telecommunications technologies including SS7, SMTP, LDAP/X.500, and SNA.
Dave graduated with a first class degree in Engineering from Cambridge University.
Outside of work, Dave competes in both mountain bike and sail-boat races, and somehow manages to find time to relax by snowboarding, unicycling - and gardening.
Alastair Mitchell | SVP Product Management/Marketing
Alastair Mitchell joined Metaswitch in 2002, and currently leads the product management and product marketing teams for all carrier products. Previously he led the engineering team responsible for all product development on SIP infrastructure products – including the Perimeta SBC, as well as new hardware projects including the evolution of the Metaswitch UMG platform.
Prior to his return to the engineering organization in 2009, Alastair spent 3 years in the US, running first line customer support for the Eastern and Central regions of the US and Canada.
Alastair graduated from the University of Cambridge with degrees in Genetics and Computer Science.
Alastair Mitchell | SVP Product Management/Marketing
Alastair Mitchell joined Metaswitch in 2002, and currently leads the product management and product marketing teams for all carrier products. Previously he led the engineering team responsible for all product development on SIP infrastructure products – including the Perimeta SBC, as well as new hardware projects including the evolution of the Metaswitch UMG platform.
Prior to his return to the engineering organization in 2009, Alastair spent 3 years in the US, running first line customer support for the Eastern and Central regions of the US and Canada.
Alastair graduated from the University of Cambridge with degrees in Genetics and Computer Science.