De Keijzer AdvisorySTETTEN SH

Independent senior advisor · Business and IT transformation

Large transformations, steered by someone who has run them.

John de Keijzer, former CIO of Fastweb + Vodafone and Swisscom technology leader, helps boards and CEOs land large transformations on plan, one to two days a week. Commercially minded, guided by numbers, data and facts, and ready to say what others would rather not hear.

Book a free 45-minute transformation check See services
  • 1,000–1,500people in the IT organisation he led
  • €200–300Mannual IT budget
  • 50%IT synergies, five-year integration plan
  • 35 yearsin telecom and IT, vendor and operator side

Track record with Swisscom · Fastweb + Vodafone · HP · Sun Microsystems · Tandem

Why John

Three seats at the table. Most advisors have sat in one.

In 35 years in telecom technology, John has built software for operators, sold to them, run technology inside one, and carried a CIO's accountability through a national merger. He has worked across European, North American, South American and Asia-Pacific markets, and knows how a transformation looks from each side, and where it usually goes wrong. He thinks commercially, decides on numbers, data and facts, and takes on the uncomfortable parts: rebuilding systems and organisations, not just repainting them.

The vendor

Tandem, Sun and HP

Telecom software architect, founder of Sun's Java telecom standards programme, and director of HP's telecom business in Western Europe.

The operator

Swisscom

Head of Enterprise Architecture & Technical Strategy, then ten years running the Development unit for IT, Network & Innovation at Switzerland's largest operator.

The CIO

Fastweb + Vodafone

IT lead for the merger preparation, then CIO and Executive Committee member of the combined Fastweb + Vodafone in Italy.

AI in software delivery

John is a pioneer of the AI digital software factory, where AI agents and people work together through the full BizDevSecOps cycle: from requirements and architecture to code, testing and deployment, with security and governance built in. He helps leadership teams design and build theirs, delivering business value through lower cost, higher velocity and better quality, without losing control.

Services

Four services, all delivered personally by John.

No junior team and no subcontractors. Recommendations are not tied to a product or a delivery contract.

Transformation advisory: the Helm Cycle

The Helm Cycle is John's method for steering a transformation the way a skipper steers an offshore passage: plan, build, run and learn, repeated every year (more in At the helm). He is known in the industry for relentless execution: a plan that holds through build and run, delivered year after year.

  1. PlanA five-year transformation plan, with a two-year financial and KPI outlook the board can steer on.
  2. BuildDisciplined delivery against that plan, with governance that shows early what is off track.
  3. RunYear-over-year execution until the results are in the numbers, not just in the roadmap.
  4. LearnEach year, results are measured against the KPI outlook and the lessons go straight into the next plan.

The cycle repeats every year: learn feeds the next plan.

Includes board-level sparring, independent second opinions on IT plans and technology risk, and using AI to deliver software faster.

For CEO, board, CIO

Programme review and turnaround

A fact-based health check of a programme that is stalling or over budget, a clear go, fix or stop recommendation, and a recovery plan: pragmatic, and hard where it has to be. Can continue as an interim steering role.

For Programme sponsor, CEO

Executive coaching

One-to-one coaching for CIOs, IT leadership and sales leadership teams, from a peer who has carried the same accountability, and a qualified sailing instructor (see At the helm).

For CIO, executive and sales leaders

Advisory for technology providers

An operator's-eye view for software vendors and integrators: what telco buyers value, how they decide, and how to sharpen propositions for them.

For Vendor and integrator leadership

How it works

Senior time when it counts, in a format that fits.

ModelTypical scopeCommitment
Retained advisorOngoing sparring, steering committees, executive meetings1 day a week, flexing to 2 when needed
Focused assignmentProgramme review, health check, strategy or due-diligence inputA few weeks, fixed scope
Interim supportTemporary senior leadership in a CIO office or transformationBy agreement
  1. Transformation checkFree, 45 minutes, no obligation: what is at stake, where the plan is at risk, and whether John is the right fit.
  2. Short diagnostic1–3 days of interviews and document review.
  3. ProposalScope, cadence and fee, agreed in writing.
  4. EngagementRegular working rhythm with a monthly review of results.

At the helm

Calculated risk, the way a skipper takes it.

John is a certified RYA Yachtmaster Ocean and an RYA Cruising Instructor. Reaching that level takes years of offshore passages, each one planned, sailed and monitored, and ends with an independent examination at sea. He brings the same discipline to transformation: be bold, but only on a sound plan, and never stop reading the conditions. That is where his Helm Cycle comes from.

At seaIn the Helm Cycle
Passage planRoute, tides, weather windows and safe havens worked out before leaving port.
PlanThe five-year plan, with fall-back options agreed up front.
Under wayHold the course, trim for the conditions, and decide early when the plan needs to change.
BuildDisciplined delivery, with clear decisions instead of drift.
On watchInstruments, log and lookout, around the clock.
RunKPIs as instruments: you know where you are at any moment.
DebriefEvery passage reviewed, so the next one is sailed better.
LearnResults against the outlook feed straight into next year's plan.

As an instructor, John coaches the way sailors are trained: let people take the helm, set clear limits, and stay close enough to step in. Leaders get room to take calculated risks, with a plan behind every one.

Experience

From telecom software to the CIO's chair.

  1. Founder and Managing Director

    De Keijzer Advisory, Stetten SH

    Independent executive advisory and coaching.

  2. CIO and member of the Executive Committee

    Fastweb + Vodafone (Swisscom group), Milan

    Led an IT organisation of 1,000–1,500 people with an annual IT budget of €200–300 million, and a five-year integration plan for 50% IT synergies. Accountable for IT strategy and governance, architecture and security, infrastructure and workplace, corporate IT systems, and data, analytics and AI.

  3. IT Lead, Fastweb and Vodafone Italia pre-merger integration

    Swisscom, Zurich and Milan

    Prepared the integration of all IT systems and processes: risk analysis of both IT estates, a joint five-year IT strategy with the business units and network, built as value streams per business segment, the FY2025 business plan, synergy and TSA planning, the resource and talent plan, and the day-one IT organisation.

  4. Head of Development IT, Network & Innovation

    Swisscom, Bern

    Member of the senior management team in IT, Network & Infrastructure. Moved development from bi-modal IT to a fully continuous BizDevOps model in 2020, using the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe).

Earlier career: Swisscom architecture, HP, Sun Microsystems, Tandem

  1. Head of Enterprise Architecture & Technical Strategy

    Swisscom, Bern

    A driving force behind the network and IT modernisation strategy built on three waves: All IP, Agility and Cloud.

  2. Director Sales and Delivery, Communication & Media Solutions

    HP, Greater Western Europe

    Full P&L responsibility for a business of more than USD 40 million, after leading the Benelux business.

  3. Business Development, then Senior Manager Software Engineering

    Sun Microsystems

    Created the JAIN programme for Java telecom standards with more than 100 partners, then led international engineering teams across Europe, the US, India and China.

  4. Software Developer and Architect

    Tandem Computers

    Telecom software for major operators: intelligent networks, SMS, call centres and voice response.

  • AI digital software factory (BizDevSecOps)
  • Pre- and post-merger IT integration
  • IT and BSS/OSS modernisation
  • Enterprise architecture
  • Agile at scale: SAFe, Scrum, BizDevOps
  • API platforms and digital ecosystems
  • Vendor and partner management
  • IT governance and security architecture
  • Leading large IT organisations

About

Portrait of John de Keijzer
John de Keijzer is the founder of De Keijzer Advisory. Until 2026 he was CIO and Executive Committee member of Fastweb + Vodafone in Italy, after leading the IT preparation of the merger. Before that he spent fourteen years at Swisscom, heading enterprise architecture and technical strategy and then the Development unit. Earlier he worked for Tandem, Sun Microsystems and HP. He holds the Dutch engineering title ing. and an MBA in Computer Science and Economics from Utrecht University. A Dutch national, he lives in Switzerland and works in English, German and Dutch.

John is direct and hands-on, with a character of his own: he says clearly what he sees and gets things moving. At the same time he is personal and quickly builds close working relationships, so boards get a straight answer and teams get someone who is in it with them.

Away from workJohn sails offshore as a certified RYA Yachtmaster Ocean, trains new skippers as an RYA Cruising Instructor, and is a keen fisherman.

Contact

Let's talk about the transformation in front of you.

Book a free 45-minute transformation check. You describe the plan and where it is stuck; John gives you an honest first view and says whether he can help. No obligation.

Email John to book

Email

john@dekeijzer.ch

Phone

+41 79 875 96 77

Address

Chlosterstrasse 5
8234 Stetten SH, Switzerland