Connexin welcomes experienced Three and O2 CMO Shadi Halliwell to our board following £80 million investment

Katie Muir on November 3, 2020


Shadi Halliwell

Smart Infrastructure and IoT specialist Connexin today announced that we have appointed former O2 UK and Three UK CMO Shadi Halliwell to our board as a non-executive director.

Strengthening the Connexin Team

Following the news of Connexin’s recent Smart City contract wins and strategic investment provided by Whitehelm Capital, Shadi is one of the new non-executive additions to the board as we look to strengthen our team and build upon our recent successes in the Smart City and IoT sectors.

Having joined Three UK as Chief Marketing Officer in September 2017, Shadi led the signing of their new sponsorship deal with Chelsea FC, alongside launching Three’s 5G campaign, highlighting their superior 5G spectrum holding.

Key Role in Launching iPhone in UK

Prior to her role at Three UK, Shadi was the Group Creative Marketing Director at Harvey Nichols for three years, driving their radical transformation programme across their physical stores and digital platforms. She also spent 23 years at O2 UK, and was the driving force behind bringing the iPhone to the UK with the first exclusive UK retail launch whilst spearheading the brand’s journey into the entertainment sector, most notably relaunching the iconic Millennium Dome as The O2 Arena.

Working to deliver UK smart cities

Speaking on Shadi’s appointment, Furqan Alamgir, Co- Founder & CEO at Connexin, said:

“I’m delighted to welcome Shadi into the Connexin family. Shadi embodies the Connexin culture and not only thinks differently but brings with her a wealth of experience which will fuel us in our mission to enrich people’s lives through sustainable innovation”. 

Shadi Halliwell, new Non-Executive Director at Connexin said:

“I’m delighted to be joining Connexin, a company that is championing the delivery of connected cities throughout the UK. I am looking forward to working with the very talented team at this pivotal time in the company’s history”.

Sourcing Top Technology Talent

Connexin has worked with the Executive Search boutique, Talented Group, to identify the best talent in the technology industry, in keeping with our values of building an exceptional team as we enter the next step of our journey.

Simon Murphy, CEO & Founder of Talented Group, said:

“Talented Group is honoured to continue supporting Furqan and Connexin as the business continues to scale. We have known Shadi since her time at O2 UK and we are extremely happy she has accepted the opportunity to join Connexin’s board at this exciting time in the company’s evolution. Shadi’s leadership skills and expertise of building market leading brands, combined with Connexin’s cutting-edge proposition and service offering, will make a winning combination.”

Fast Track to Leading Role in Smart City Projects

Connexin is fast becoming the go-to company in the smart communities and IoT arena, having delivered some of the UK’s first large scale Smart City projects. Our string of achievements includes delivering the UK’s smartest street in Newcastle, developing the first smart city platform for Hull City Council, and building a city-wide IoT network and platform in Sheffield in partnership with Amey.

Alamgir Affirms Connexin Commitment

Alamgir concludes:

“The pandemic has highlighted the critical role digital infrastructure and data play in our lives. This appointment adds significant firepower to our team and demonstrates our commitment to invest in and support communities in their journey to embrace technology.”

Learn more about the industry-leading Connexin team.