April 24 2013

Suffolk, UK. April 24 2013. Europe’s leading independent research and development company for telecommunications systems, UTEL, has appointed industry specialist Max Penfold as International Sales and Marketing Manager. 

Penfold, who has 30 years of experience in the industry, began his career covering the UK, US and Australasia for STC, a British company. He later honed his specialism to test and measurement, first at the now defunct BICC and for the last 16 years at American Fujikura Limited (AFL), where he helped to develop one of the most successful international brands in the sector.  

“The key for us now is to take our reputation and cement it in the international markets. We have some brilliant R&D minds able to create solutions others can’t even envisage. We must now increase our reach,” says Frank Kaufhold, Managing Director of UTEL.  “Max’s track record proves that he is just the man to achieve this and will get the message into the wider industry that we can deliver what may previously have seemed impossible, quickly and without the enormous price tag one might expect.”

During his time at AFL Max was responsible for sales in all markets outside of the US, and became an acknowledged expert in fibre testing with many service providers and operators worldwide.

“When I joined Noyes Fibre it was small and independent, with only meagre sales outside of the US. Later acquired by AFL it was my task to grow the business internationally. Initially concentrating on Europe, we became BT’s main supplier of handheld fibre optic test equipment and grew this market until it became more than 30 percent of the company’s business. Significant effort in the Middle East also followed and we captured some of the largest accounts in the region. I aim to replicate my success for UTEL as it ramps up its international expansion,” says Penfold.  

UTEL’s most recently completed project involves the design, manufacture and delivery of one of France’s first 100 percent fibre optic networks. France’s Pau City FTTH Network includes more than 55,000 customers and 140 sites.

For further information about UTEL’s existing solutions and services visit www.utel.co.uk