#Sweden #Stockholm #Elisa Polystar #Steve Preston #Anssi Okkonen

Steve Preston Takes Over as CEO of Elisa Polystar

In a pivotal move for the telecommunications sector, Elisa Polystar has announced the appointment of Steve Preston as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2025. This decision marks a significant transition within the company as it prepares to embrace fresh challenges and opportunities in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

For nearly three years, Preston has served as the Chief Commercial Officer at Elisa Polystar, where he has played a crucial role in shaping the company's commercial strategies and nurturing essential partnerships. His proficiency in these areas is expected to ensure a smooth leadership handover, building on the solid groundwork laid by his predecessor, Anssi Okkonen.

A Leader with Extensive Experience

With over 25 years in the telecommunications industry, Steve Preston comes to the CEO position with extensive experience and a strong track record as a leader. Prior to joining Elisa Polystar, he was the CEO of Norconsult Telematics and contributed significantly to the global outreach of Aircom International. His tenure at Cardinality Ltd, which Elisa acquired in 2022, further enriched his expertise, making him a well-rounded candidate to lead the company into the future.

Anssi Okkonen, who has led Elisa Polystar since its inception, will continue to serve as a senior advisor until his retirement in March 2025. Okkonen’s leadership has been marked by innovation, growth, and a staunch commitment to operational excellence. His departure leaves a distinguished legacy within the company, which will now be carried forward by Preston.

Vision for the Future

Upon accepting his new role, Preston expressed his excitement: “I am honored to take on this new role and lead Elisa Polystar into its next chapter. I look forward to building on the strong foundation Anssi has laid and collaborating with our talented team to achieve our ambitious goals.” His vision resonates well with the strategic direction of the company, which aims to leverage its capabilities in cloud-native and AI-driven solutions for Communication Service Providers (CSPs).

Elisa Polystar has established itself as a leader in delivering innovative solutions that transform CSP networks, optimizing operational efficiencies while ensuring exceptional customer experiences. Preston’s leadership style, focused on collaboration and innovation, is expected to further enhance the company's reputation as a vendor-agnostic expert that seamlessly integrates with various hardware platforms and technologies.

Elisa Polystar's Commitment to Excellence

In its ongoing mission, Elisa Polystar harnesses advanced AI-driven analytics that have effectively reduced operational expenses (OPEX) and capital expenditures (CAPEX) for over 100 CSPs globally. The company's commitment to fostering closed-loop network operations and automation across its domains underlines its dedication to excellence.

By focusing on innovation and technology integration, Elisa Polystar remains at the forefront of the telecommunications industry, appealing not only to its established customer base in Finland and Estonia, but also aiming to expand its global reach.

As Preston steps into his new role, the telecommunications community and stakeholders keenly observe how his leadership will influence Elisa Polystar's trajectory and the broader landscape of the industry. The transition represents more than just a change in leadership; it symbolizes the continuation of a legacy of excellence, innovation, and growth. The team's synergy under Preston's guidance is poised to advance Elisa Polystar's mission of becoming a leader in self-driving networks.

For more on this transition and Elisa Polystar’s offerings, visit www.elisapolystar.com.