Partner, Lead Technology Strategy & Networks

Francois Picard

As Partner and Lead Technology Strategy & Networks at NE&S, Francois provides network operators, investors, equipment manufacturers and ICT industry associations with business planning/modeling, spectrum auction services, network & technology planning, due diligence, response to public consultations from regulators, advisory on network engineering & deployment, vendor negotiations, and expert witness services.

Francois comes with an extensive background in the telecommunication industry and has held several technology leadership roles in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. His experience in the telecommunication sector includes work in large publicly traded organizations, privately held corporations and start-up environments. He has been providing consulting services since 2005.

Prior to NE&S, Francois held the position of Vice-President Wireless Networks at Iristel, where he oversaw all planning, engineering, and operations activities of 3G, 4G and 5G wireless networks. He served as a spectrum auction consultant with Nordicity, where he supported Canadian operators in their spectrum acquisition efforts in 2018 and 2019. Francois worked as CTO/CIO in the creation of a Caribbean MNO operation (2015-2017) from the pre-financed stage of the project to network launch. At Bell Canada, he managed the deployment of the company’s first 4G LTE network in 2011. At Eastlink, a Cableco in Atlantic Canada, he built the wireless network operation from the ground up between 2007 and 2010. Francois’s technical, operational, and economic experience allowed him to provide assistance to multiple service providers in the preparation of their regulatory submissions to ISED and CRTC in response to various public consultations.

 
Specialties :

Network Planning, Spectrum Auctions, Vendor Negotiations, & Wireless Strategy.

Degree :

B.Eng. University of Sherbrooke

Languages:

Fluent in English and French, functional in Spanish.

Professional Skills

Francois’ strengths include exceptional leadership skills, ability to build trust, good judgement and vision. Results driven, Francois is a truth seeker and a believer in process improvement and in increasing shareholders’ value.