SimplyAI appoints telecom veteran Ian Fishwick as chairman
Leeds-based AI communications platform SimplyAI has appointed Ian Fishwick as chairman. Fishwick spent more than 30 years in telecoms and ICT, most recently as founder of AdEPT Technology Group, which he sold in 2023 after growing it to £75 million in revenue.
Fishwick completed 43 acquisitions across his career and held senior roles at Telewest Communications and Airband. At SimplyAI, he will oversee governance, investment strategy, and partner development as the company expands through telecom and managed service provider channels.
Why this matters for communications leaders
The appointment signals SimplyAI's push into the telecom channel at a moment when AI adoption is moving from experimental to operational. Service providers and their customers need practical ways to integrate AI into existing communications infrastructure - not theoretical frameworks.
For PR and communications professionals working in tech or telecom sectors, this reflects a broader shift: AI for PR & Communications is becoming embedded in how companies deliver services, not bolted on afterward.
The strategy
SimplyAI CEO Alex Deighton said Fishwick's experience guiding Airband through a major investment phase made him the right fit. "Ian's experience across public markets, acquisitions and telecom platform growth will be invaluable as we scale internationally and prepare for our next investment phase," Deighton said.
Fishwick framed the opportunity in infrastructure terms. Telecom has undergone several major transitions in the past three decades. "We are now entering another one as AI becomes embedded into everyday business communications," he said. "SimplyAI is well positioned to help telecom service providers, MSPs and their customers adopt these capabilities in a practical and scalable way."
For communications professionals involved in AI for Executives & Strategy, this appointment demonstrates how experienced leaders are positioning themselves in AI-adjacent roles - not AI specialists, but people who understand how technology gets distributed through existing business channels.
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