Alvarez & Marsal’s (A&M) Corporate Performance Improvement (CPI) group announced the expansion of its Telecommunications & Digital Infrastructure (TDI) practice led by newly appointed, 30-year industry veteran, Managing Director Andy Walker. The extension of A&M’s TDI practice is in direct response to increasing cost pressures facing the market alongside eroding pricing power and slowing growth.
 
Working in concert with A&M TDI industry veteran Byron Smyl, Mr. Walker is joined by newly hired Managing Director Jason Miller and the newly appointed Board of Senior Advisors Greg Douglass, Steve McGaw, Dr. Peter Schultz, and Andrew Snead. This leadership team of industry operators strengthens CPI’s footprint and sector expertise against the backdrop of mounting industry challenges including increased operating & capital costs as well as accelerating price, products and services competition.
 
Mike Davidson, Managing Director and National Practice Leader of CPI stressed that, “A&M’s expanded offerings directly respond to growing demand for telecommunications and digital infrastructure expertise across all sectors. Andy, Byron and their team embody A&M’s operational heritage and exemplify our focus on financial results. Their joining extends CPI’s ability to help clients achieve sustainable growth.”
 
A&M’s augmented TDI practice will serve clients globally across industry sub-segments including wireless, wireline, cable, digital infrastructure, satellite, enterprise, engineering and services, and communications equipment. TDI’s lines of service are complemented by A&M’s integrated platform of Tax, Global Transaction, Valuation and Disputes and Investigations advisory practices bringing differentiated capabilities to performance improvement and transformation initiatives.
 
Walker spoke about market challenges and opportunities. “TDI provides the plumbing that enables our modern world. Yet the industry faces significant challenges such as finding new sources of revenue growth, improving margins, optimizing deployment of capital and transforming operations. A&M’s operational heritage, results-driven mindset and global platform is the blueprint for developing and executing strategies that maximize value and improve profitability for clients.”
 
Smyl added, “Our sector has been buffeted by the shift toward software, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Cloud. However, telecommunications and digital infrastructure remains a critical component for economic competitiveness with rising demands for low-latency bandwidth. With the addition of the team, A&M has expanded its scale and depth of expertise to help clients drive change as they work through market challenges.”
 
Walker focuses on helping companies develop and implement strategies that improve their financial position by anchoring on growth while improving their core operations and productivity.  Prior to joining A&M, Mr. Walker served as Global Lead for Accenture’s Communications & Media Industry. Additionally, he worked for members of the U.S. Congress’ House Telecommunications Subcommittee.
 
In addition to their roles with A&M:

• Dr. Schultz, co-inventor of the fiber optics technology used in terrestrial and underseas deployment, provides technical and business consulting services to international companies through Peter Schultz Consulting, LLC.
• Mr. Snead serves as the founder and CEO of NOVOS FiBER, a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and retail internet service provider (ISP) and is on the Board of the 5G Open Innovation Lab.

Previously:

• Mr. Douglass served as Accenture’s Global Lead for Communications, Media and Technology Strategy, and led Accenture’s Technology Strategy and Advisory Business.
• Mr. McGaw led AT&T’s corporate strategy and development, served as Chief Marketing Officer for AT&T Business and directed AT&T’s wireless supply chain and fleet operations.
• Mr. Miller served as SVP and Chief Information Officer at MEDNAX, and as a Managing Director with Accenture’s Communications, Media, and Technology industry group.