Chair’s Foreword

Welcome to JT’s Annual Report for 2022.

Meriel Lenfesty Chair

It is a really exciting time to be taking the helm at JT. We’ve set out a very clear 5-year strategy as we focus on transforming the business into a sustainable communication provider of the future.

My background is in customer experience, and I want to continue making sure that the relationship we have with our customers is as strong as it could possibly be. Delighting our customers by delivering the connectivity they need, in the way that they need it is what makes JT. As a provider of critical national infrastructure, our business touches everyone, so it is vital that we get it right.

A period of strong growth and value realisation in our international business has given us the platform to re-invest in our core activities at home. That means upgrading the equipment which runs our network and, subject to regulatory approval, to begin building the eagerly anticipated 5G network.

JT provides the connectivity which enables businesses, governments and communities to thrive. Our networks are amongst the best networks in the world, and my challenge to our customers is to use them to their full capabilities – in that sense, 5G will be a perfect partner to our world leading fibre network, I’m really excited about the opportunities they provide. There are many applications from health care to sustainability that will see the real potential of these next generations of technology, and JT is here to enable them. We’re keen to work with our islands’ leaders to identify ways to deliver positive outcomes for our communities.

A key focus in the 5 year plan is around sustainability in all senses of the word. We are focusing our efforts on delivering the best for all our stakeholders including our customers, our people, our shareholder, our island and the planet. We no longer measure success based purely on financial results, we now monitor progress and reward against the experience of all these stakeholders.

I would like to congratulate Daragh McDermott on his appointment as CEO. He combines strong leadership skills with an exceptional first-hand knowledge of JT, its people and its customers. He has made a number of structural changes to the senior leadership team to drive the delivery of our strategy. I’m pleased to welcome Louise Easterbrook to the JT Board as a Non-executive Director and I’d like to thank all the JT staff for their dedication and loyalty through a time of change.

I would particularly like to thank my predecessor, Phil Male, for the excellent job that he did as Chair where he led a period of huge change and significant developments. I am proud to now have the opportunity to build on our previous successes and lead JT through the major transformation ahead.

I am looking forward to the next decade which will see an even faster rate of change thanks to the investments we have made, and the new technology that’s emerging. JT, and the Channel Islands, will be right at the centre of that.

Chair 29 March 2023