Ref: 04/02
Date: 17 January 2002

David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications, has appointed Peter Waller as Oftel's new Director of Operations.

He succeeds Anne Lambert who is returning to the DTI after three years at Oftel.

Peter Waller joins Oftel from the Department of Trade and Industry where he is currently the Deputy Chief Executive of the Small Business Service.

He has extensive knowledge of the current issues facing UK businesses, having previously been the Director of Business Links, the national network of advice centres for small and medium sized businesses.

Commenting on the appointment, David Edmonds said:

"Peter Waller is joining Oftel at a very important time for the telecoms industry and Oftel.

"The creation of the new communications regulator OFCOM, supporting the development of broadband services and the implementation of the new European Directives on communications are some of the major issues Oftel is currently dealing with.

"Peter brings a wealth of business knowledge that will make an important contribution to Oftel's work to support a competitive telecoms market."

Peter Waller takes up his new post on 21 January.