Former VP appointed C&W Country Manager SKN

By Stanford Conway
Editor-in-Chief, SKNVibes.com

David Lake, newly-appointed Cable & Wireless Country Manager, St. Kitts-Nevis

This appointment replaces that of Chief Executive held by Patricia Walters and forms part of the company’s current restructuring programme, which aims to establish C&W as one business unit with 13 geographical locations across the Caribbean.

Speaking with SKNVibes, Lake explained that the duties of Country Manager are similar to those of the former Chief Executive, but with a few exceptions which would provide him time to focus more on the customer.

“As the Country Manager, I will primarily be responsible for Sales, Customer Services and Marketing, while the support functions, which include Networks, Finance, Human Resources, Corporate Communications and Legal and Regulatory Affairs, which were among the former Chief Executive’s responsibilities, will now report directly to the Regional Centre.”

Lake further explained that the One Caribbean matrix structure that is being set up seeks to eradicate the duplication of operating systems and multiple product platforms that provide the same service in a disparate format.
 

“This new unified structure with under the leadership of one Chief Executive, Richard Dodd, as opposed to 13 CEs, will ensure that when decisions are made at the technical and organisational levels, those decisions will be implemented throughout all 13 geographical locations ensuring oneness in the Caribbean.”

In response to how he would maintain the competitiveness created by his predecessor, Lake declared that it is a herculean task for anyone to emulate the standards set by Patricia Walters, but expressed confidence in the team of young executives that are eager to build on the foundation laid by the former CE.

Lake added that the revised role of the Country Manager redounds to the customers’ benefit as “my focus is going to be Customer First …the customer will be at the front and centre of everything that we do. My objective will be to ensure that the customer notices a tangible improvement in the quality if customer experience that we provide”.

The Newtown-born single parent of three has almost a decade worth of experience in telecommunications. His tenure with C&W began as Head of Customers Services, then through Internet and Data and Marketing, before culminating as Vice President of Mobile, Consumer Sales and Indirect Channel.

Lake’s education began at Newtown Primary School from where he went on to attend the Basseterre High School. Upon completion of his ‘A’ Level examinations, the young scholar opted for the University of the West Indies, where he graduated with Honours with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering.

The new Country Manager sports his Executive of the Year 2008 Trophy

On his return home, Lake was employed at the St. Kitts Bottling Company, first as Plant Manager then as Production Manager. Later he went back to college, this time to the University of Birmingham in the UK, where he was awarded a Master of Science degree in Integrated Management Systems.

Lake expressed high praise of his parents and grandparents, especially his mother, Orfelina Lake, whom he feels could have far surpassed his own academic achievements given half the chance that he got. He credits his late grandmother, Italia Nero, for the driving force behind his academic success.

He claimed that his every endeavour was pursued with the singular goal of excellence in his relentless efforts to make her proud; this is the same example he is now setting for his children to emulate.

SKNVibes has also learnt that over the past year, the new Country Manager’s professional attitude towards work and stellar achievements resulted in him being awarded the 2008 Executive of the Year and the Gallup 75th Percentile Global Rating, which is an international benchmark for excellence in people management.

He led the team that won the prestigious Cable and Wireless Global Summit Award 2007 for Most Effective Change Management, through the creation of innovative marketing and public relations campaigns, effective use of communications, partnership with indirect channel agents and Government, and improving customer service.

This enabled Cable and Wireless St. Kitts & Nevis to maintain the highest market share in the Caribbean, grow its customer base and increase revenue.

Lake also led the three-member team that received Excellence in the East Honourable Mention in 2005 for its key contribution to Cable and Wireless Caribbean businesses, with the creation and sharing of “Double Bubble,” a highly successful Mobile promotion.

Lake, whose hobbies include hiking, physical training and outdoor activities, said that he is a strong advocate of a balanced life. “I subscribe to the philosophy of balancing the hectic demands of work and family, with the imperatives of church and community. Given the multiplicity of tasks that we all have to juggle daily, the genius is in the accomplishment of personal, emotional and spiritual equilibrium.

To achieve this is to achieve harmony with nature . . . the nirvana of true happiness.”Lake, who was a past President of the Newtown Sports Club for three years, is now a Governor of the Brimstone Hill Heritage Society and an active member of the Bethesda Moravian Church.