Stuart Woods

With over 35 years of expertise in the UK telecommunications sector, I specialise in Partner Management and Senior PMO leadership. My career highlights include delivering complex projects such as the 2012 Olympic Park in Stratford, driving operational excellence, and fostering collaboration across programme levels. During the pandemic, I led a pivotal initiative at Openreach that improved efficiency and enhanced customer experience while ensuring continuity in the UK's full fibre roll-out. Heading up the PMO in Partner Management, I successfully engaged with engineering field services tier one providers and senior stakeholders across Finance, Procurement, Operations, and Partners. By benchmarking market median rates for engineering gangs, accounting for geographical and supplier variations, I navigated the complexities of labor procurement amidst competition from other utilities. Establishing contracts with break clauses allowed for flexible renegotiation of rates and terms, maintaining the pace of fibre deployment within cost parameters.

Leveraging my PMO governance expertise, I implemented a regular schedule of stakeholder calls, fostering collaboration and operational excellence. These sessions enabled real-time problem-solving, ensuring a seamless focus on cost, quality, and timely delivery against business targets. This proactive engagement with stakeholders drove efficiency and upheld the high standards expected of a critical national infrastructure project. The process ultimately strengthened partner relationships and sustained momentum in the fibre build, meeting both organisational objectives and customer expectations. Known for building strong relationships with senior stakeholders in operations, finance, procurement, and partners, I have consistently achieved business objectives through governance, accountability, and analytical insights.

Over the past eight years, I have partnered with tier-one BPO services companies, deploying innovative solutions using automation and AI to support growth and efficiency improvements. Skilled in end-to-end project delivery, including contracts and procurement, I excel in ensuring accountability and effective collaboration. Passionate about continuous growth, I am eager to bring my extensive operational experience and business improvement acumen to new challenges.

With over 35 years in UK telecoms, I’ve built a career around making complex programmes run smoothly and getting the best out of supplier relationships. Whether it was delivering the 2012 Olympic Park or leading Openreach’s pandemic response, I’ve always focused on driving efficiency, solving problems quickly, and keeping things moving—especially when the stakes are high.

I’ve worked closely with tier-one engineering and BPO providers, navigating everything from contract negotiations to market rate benchmarking. By factoring in regional and supplier differences, I’ve helped teams stay on budget without slowing down delivery. I’m a big believer in flexible contracts and clear governance—they’re what keep programmes agile and accountable.

My approach is hands-on and collaborative. I set up regular stakeholder calls to keep everyone aligned, tackle issues early, and make sure we’re hitting targets on cost, quality, and timelines. I’ve built strong relationships across Finance, Procurement, Operations, and Partner teams, and I know how to bring people together to get things done.

I’m passionate about continuous improvement and always looking for smarter ways to work—whether that’s through automation, AI, or just better communication. I bring experience, structure, and a calm head to fast-moving environments, and I’m ready to take on new challenges where I can make a real impact.

• 2013 – Management Apprenticeship NVQ (A Level)
• City & Guilds - Technical Drawing

1989 – (GCSE) English Written, English Oral, Mathematics, Chemistry (A-C)