Keri Gilder

, Colt Technology Services

Keri is a dynamic changemaker and is the driving force behind one of the most exciting recent acquisitions in the telecoms industry – Colt’s $1.8bn acquisition of Lumen EMEA, closed on November 1st 2023. Her energy, sharp intelligence and openness make her a popular and inspiring leader and influencer. Keri’s leadership has transformed Colt from a telecoms company into a digital infrastructure company leading in the area of ESG, driving innovation, and underpinning the technologies of the future.

Keri takes very seriously her responsibility and influence as a leader to drive change across the tech industry. It’s why she’s a mentor for organisations including PowerWomen and the GLF Next-Gen Leaders programme. Recently, Keri met with leader of the opposition Sir Keir Starmer and, separately, with the deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, to discuss digital inclusion; the UK’s future technology roadmap; and the urgent requirement to build sustainable infrastructure and talent for the country to lead in AI and Quantum.

Keri has helped pioneer and develop the industry’s first inclusion and diversity score (IDS) with TMForum. As President of the Global Telecom Women’s Network, she led a call to action for all CEOs and boards toward digital inclusion. She has joined the board of Change the Face Alliance, an industry-wide initiative which calls on businesses to take action to increase D,E and I in telecoms.

Keri is working hard to remove barriers that prevent women from progressing and is unafraid to tackle ‘taboo’ topics such as menopause in the workplace and bring them into the open. Keri leads from the front with 50/50 gender parity in her Executive Leadership Team.

Keri is also a champion for sustainability across the industry, leading Colt to join the top 1% of businesses by securing a Platinum EcoVadis rating for outstanding ESG performance.

Since Keri was appointed CEO in 2020, Colt’s employee engagement scores have risen significantly and Colt has consistently outperformed the telecoms industry norm.

Keri has also led the transformation of strategies and policies to make Colt more inclusive, including:

  • Gender Action Plan to improve gender balance throughout the business
  • RISE – our programme for emerging talent from underrepresented backgrounds
  • Allyship in Action programme aimed at bringing allyship to life
  • Optimising Accessibility – our five-year accessibility improvement plan
  • Neurodiversity research and awareness
  • Building inclusion into people processes
  • Menopause Reframed - our menopause awareness campaign
  • Pride cross-company collaboration, supporting LGBTQ+ colleagues in tech
  • We joined TC4RE - the technology community for Racial Equality
  • Global Transition at Work policy
  • Domestic Abuse Support policy
  • Global Workplace Adjustments policy

Under Keri’s leadership, customer experience is built into Colt’s DNA. In an industry not known for its track record in this key area, Colt has moved the dial over the past year and regularly achieves NPS scores in the high 60s and 70s (against an industry average of 28).