Wally Swain is a senior vice president in Yankee Group’s Network Research group, leading the Emerging Markets team. Swain contributes research and consulting deliverables related to both fixed and wireless telecommunications markets. Based in Bogotá, Colombia, he maintains continuous contact with the various global players to produce his analysis, demand modeling and forecasting and market reports. Swain’s expertise includes mobile telecommunications operations, M&A due diligence, strategic planning and organization design, alliance management, financial information for management and costing and statistics modeling. Beyond Latin America, Swain has worked on strategic consulting projects in Bangladesh, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Vietnam.
Prior to Yankee Group, Swain joined Focus Ltda. as a partner in January 2002, after ending his term as CEO of Comcel S.A., the dominant cellular provider in Colombia. During his tenure, Comcel increased yearly revenue by 35 percent, increased its subscriber base by 84 percent and decreased headcount by 20 percent. In addition, Swain oversaw the successful transition of company policies and procedures to reflect the business model of the new shareholder group, America Movil. Prior to his CEO position, he was COO of Comcel from August 1998 through November 2000. During this period, Swain managed operations through Colombia’s worst recession in 67 years, eventually delivering savings that pushed EBITDA margins to their highest level yet (from 26 percent in 1998 to 29 percent in 2000). Before joining Comcel, he worked for more than 20 years in several different positions within the Bell Canada organization. Swain’s previous work included positions in the office of the president, financial modeling, strategic and corporate planning, and gateways. He is the chairman of the board of the Colombia-Canadian Chamber of Commerce and member of the boards of CallYou (a Colombian Call Center), Revista Numero (a cultural magazine) and IQ Outsourcing (a provider of outsourcing services to the finance industry). He is also a mentor in Endeavor Colombia.
Swain holds an honors undergraduate degree and an M.A. degree in mathematics (statistics) from the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. He speaks English and Spanish fluently, and comprehends French and Portuguese.
Moderator: “Rest of World” LTE Implementation – Lessons from the Field
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 25
Time: 4:40 PM
Host: Welcome Address
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 26
Time: 9:00 AM
