Opient

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History

Opient was founded in 2003 by two former Hewlett-Packard Labs engineers, Stephen Leach and Jian Azari.  They were ahead of their time when developing a software tool called Spice. Spice was designed to cross-compile and accelerate modern programming languages like perl, java and python, to perform 10-100 times faster.

The co-founders have kept in touch, Opient has subsequently gathered knowledge and experience that is being applied to tackle the burning issues around networking and 5G.

Many of our team have worked together at one-time or another, and have formed strong bonds that lay the cultural foundations of trust and collaboration. These are the pre-requisites for forming our high performing team.

Team

Jian Azari

Founder and CEO

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  • Jian has over 30 years of Telecoms and Management Consulting experience. He started his career at GEC and Hewlett-Packard Labs, developing digital radios and network protocols.  He has worked in both client and supplier sides, and brings intimate knowledge of how to successfully structure Business Opportunities.  His subsequent experience of Strategy and Execution, along with proven Market Analysis and Business Development skills have been applied in the international markets of North America, Europe, the Middle East and APAC.
  • Jian is well known in the Telecoms sector having worked and held leadership roles in several Blue-chip companies including Hewlett-Packard, Atos, KPMG, Airwave Solutions, Vodafone, Gartner Consulting, Sopra Steria and WWT.
  • Jian holds a BSc in Physics from the University of Bath, an MSc and PhD in Telecommunications from the University of Essex.

Andy Norman

Principal Software Engineer

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  • Andy has over 35 years of Software and Telecoms experience. He is a highly talented and exceptional Software Engineer working at the leading Edge of Technology. He has extensive experience of working and designing Telecommunications systems including Distributed systems, Embedded systems, Protocols and several programming languages.
  • Andy has worked with several of the Opient team and has had an illustrious 32 years at Hewlett-Packard Labs and 6 years at Zeetta Networks where he has honed his knowledge of 5G technology.
  • Andy holds a BSc Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Surrey. He is the developer of one of the early internet tools called AngeFtp, and holds over 20 patents.

Martin Smith

Radio Engineer

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  • Martin has over 35 years of Electronics and Radio Industry experience. He has been involved in the deployment of several two-way Radio systems in the West of England including radio masts coverage.
  • Martin brings knowledge of Radio systems and Electronics circuit design to the RAN (Radio Access Network) for Opient.

Franziska Webley

Marketing and Client Relations

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  • Franziska has over 30 years of experience Managing Business Customers and Consumers. She has built several consumer based business in the Property sector, and brings a wealth of marketing and relationship management, along with Corporate development skills.<

Company Advisors

Vassilis Seferidis

Advisor to the Board

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  • Vassilis has more than 30 years of experience in the Telecoms and Consumer Electronics industries, having held senior Business and Product Development/Management roles in several Blue-chip companies including Samsung Electronics, Toshiba, Philips Electronics and British Telecom.
  • He has successfully launched several growing start-ups in the Networking space, including Zeetta Networks. He is a seasoned entrepreneur with experience in bringing innovative technology ideas to market.
  • Vassilis holds a BSc and MSc from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, a PhD from Essex University, and a MBA from Cass Business School from the University of London.

Eduardo Sant’Anna

Advisor to the Board

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  • Eduardo has over 20 years of Telecoms and Technology experience spanning Software Engineering, Product Management, Business Consulting, Business Development and Strategic Advisory. He has worked in several Blue-chip companies including NEC, Embratel, Orange, Vodafone, Fujitsu and WWT.
  • Eduardo is a serial entrepreneur, and brings a breadth of experience, having launched several Technology start-ups in markets adjacent to the Telecoms industry.
  • Eduardo holds a BEng in Electrical Engineering and Telecommunication, from the University of Estacio.

Firas

Firas Arab

Advisor to the Board

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  • Firas has over 17 years of Telecoms experience with a proven track record of delivering growth through Business Development and Product Innovation.
  • Firas has held a variety of leadership roles, having developed several international markets for Vodafone Group. He built his Telecom Consulting experience at Bluefish Communications and has also worked at the GSM Association (GSMA). He has most recently served as the Director of Strategic Alliances and Go-to-Market at Intelsat, operator of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial network.
  • Firas holds a MSc in Business Informatics with Distinction from Henley Business School in the UK, and a BA in Economics & Law from Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

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