London, January 16, 2023 – Leading broadband provider Hyperoptic has welcomed Lutfu Kitapci, former Vodafone Consumer Chief, into its ranks as the new Chief Customer Officer. In this pivotal role, Lutfu will steer the company’s consumer strategy, overseeing brand management, marketing, sales, and customer experience and service.
During 2022, Hyperoptic achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 250,000 active customers, a feat accompanied by a trove of five-star Trust Pilot reviews, surpassing the combined numbers of reviews from BT, Sky, and Virgin Media. Lutfu’s primary objective will be to propel this remarkable customer growth trajectory while upholding the company’s unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences.
Expressing his enthusiasm for this new role, Lutfu acknowledged Hyperoptic’s exceptional track record, stating, “Hyperoptic has achieved incredible results, building a premium network with market-leading sales and customer satisfaction. The company has also taken a leadership position on important customer issues such as social tariffs and lobbying against mid-contract price rises. That genuine care for all consumers runs throughout Hyperoptic, and I’m really excited to help this business reach the next level of customer experience and commercial performance.”
Bringing over two decades of international experience, Lutfu’s tenure at Vodafone Group saw him in various influential positions, most recently as the Global MD for Smart Tech, where he was instrumental in bringing innovative customer products to the market. His leadership roles within Vodafone’s operating companies across the Czech Republic, Turkey, Germany, and Ireland exemplify his proficiency in driving commercial growth and transformative strategies. Under his guidance as Consumer Business Unit chief, Vodafone Ireland emerged as the fastest-growing fixed broadband provider and a leader in Gigabit broadband.
Hyperoptic’s CEO, Dana Tobak, emphasized the significance of this strategic appointment, stating, “We’re entering the next phase of our growth, and Lutfu brings the experience that will help ensure we achieve our commercial ambitions. He is a strong addition to our leadership team, offering strategic expertise, powerful insights, and a laser focus on the importance of our customers’ experience of our brand.”
Hyperoptic, with an extensive customer base exceeding 250,000 and a network covering more than one million homes, has asserted itself as a frontrunner in the full fibre broadband market. The acquisition of a majority stake by leading global investment firm KKR in 2019 further solidified the company’s position.
With an eye on the future, Hyperoptic is set on a mission to reach 500,000 customers and extend its network to two million homes, aiming to sustain market-leading penetration and exceptional customer experiences as the company scales up its operations.
