Advantai names COO & CTO to bolster mobile push

Advantai Group has appointed Ben Dobbin as Chief Operating Officer of Prvidr and Julian Dell as Chief Technology Officer of Staqr, adding senior operational and technical leadership to two of its businesses.

Dobbin joins Prvidr, the group's managed services arm, after more than 15 years in telecommunications and technology. His previous roles include General Manager of Enablement at Symbio, General Manager of Operations and Technology at Uniti Group, and operations positions at Fone Dynamics, MNF Group and Telcoinabox.

Dell takes the technology lead at Staqr, Advantai's software business for telecommunications and technology service providers. He brings more than 30 years of experience across technology, engineering and operations, including Chief Technology Officer roles at Encore Group Holdings, Humanforce, Brighte and Oroton Group.

He also spent eight years at amaysim Australia in senior technology and operations roles, including Chief Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer. That gives Staqr a senior executive with direct experience in mobile virtual network operations as the business expands its work with partners in the sector.

The appointments come as Advantai expands its presence in the Australian and New Zealand telecommunications market, building on its long-standing partnership with Optus and an exclusive agreement with One NZ.

Prvidr and Staqr sit alongside Fastter in the wider Advantai portfolio. The group has framed the appointments as part of a broader effort to deepen its leadership bench as demand grows from established consumer brands seeking to launch mobile services under their own names.

Market growth

Mobile virtual network operators have become a more active part of the telecommunications market, with retailers and consumer brands using wholesale network access to sell plans without owning the underlying infrastructure. That trend has created opportunities for software, operations and managed service providers that can help launch and run those offers.

Staqr appears central to that strategy. Dell will lead the launch of the company's newest MVNO partners onto the Staqr platform and oversee the technology transition of established retail brands already using its systems.

Prvidr, meanwhile, focuses on service delivery and customer support for clients entering or expanding in the mobile market. Dobbin's appointment points to an emphasis on scaling day-to-day operations as the group adds customers across both sides of the Tasman.

David Joss, Chief Executive Officer of Advantai Group, linked the two hires to that broader commercial push.

"Ben and Julian bring exactly the depth of operational and technical leadership we need to respond to market growth and the increasing desire for established brands to offer mobile plans to their customers," Joss said.

Operational focus

Dobbin's experience has centred on operations, service delivery and enablement across communications businesses. At Symbio and Uniti Group, he held senior roles tied to network operations and operational management, while earlier positions at Fone Dynamics, MNF Group and Telcoinabox gave him exposure to a range of telecommunications business models.

That experience aligns closely with Prvidr's role in supporting brands and service providers entering the mobile market. He will work to help existing clients grow while supporting new partners as they enter the sector.

Dell's background spans both enterprise technology and consumer-facing communications businesses. His time at amaysim, along with later Chief Technology Officer roles in other sectors, gives Staqr leadership with experience in managing platform change, overseeing engineering teams and handling operational complexity in subscription-based businesses.

Joss outlined how the group expects the two executives to contribute within their respective businesses.

"Julian will lead the launch of our newest MVNO partners onto Staqr, our next-generation enablement platform, and will oversee the technology transition of our established retail brands. Drawing on his experience in scaling operations and stakeholder management across some of the largest MVNOs in the country, encompassing grocery, youth and retail, Ben will play a key role in ensuring our existing clients continue to grow and new partners successfully enter the market. Strengthening our leadership team in operations and technology now means Prvidr and Staqr are better equipped to support clients on both sides of the Tasman," Joss said.

Advantai traces its expansion to the launch of Prvidr in 2015 and now operates across managed services, software and subscription businesses. The appointments take effect immediately.