Independent senior advisor · Business and IT transformation
John de Keijzer, former CIO of Fastweb and Swisscom technology leader, advises boards, CEOs and CIOs one to two days a week.
Why John
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 knows how a transformation looks from each side, and where it usually goes wrong.
The vendor
Telecom software architect, creator of Sun's JAIN programme for Java telecom standards, and director of HP's Communication & Media Solutions business in Western Europe.
The operator
Head of Enterprise Architecture & Technical Strategy, then ten years running the Development unit for IT, Network & Innovation at Switzerland's largest operator.
The CIO
IT lead for the merger preparation, then CIO and Executive Committee member of the combined Fastweb + Vodafone in Italy.
Who it's for
An experienced, independent view on a transformation, a programme at risk or a major technology decision.
A sparring partner and coach who has done the job, for the decisions and moments that matter most.
A buyer's view of what operators value and how they decide, from someone who has sat in the CIO's chair.
Services
No junior team and no subcontractors. Recommendations are not tied to a product or a delivery contract.
Strategy, roadmap and governance for large business and IT transformations: post-merger integration, BSS/OSS and IT modernisation, cloud, API and DevOps. Includes board-level sparring and independent second opinions on IT plans and technology risk.
For CEO, board, CIO
A health check of a programme that is stalling or over budget, a clear go, fix or stop recommendation, and a recovery plan. Can continue as an interim steering role.
For Programme sponsor, CEO
One-to-one coaching for CIOs, IT leadership and sales leadership teams, from a peer who has carried the same accountability.
For CIO, executive and sales leaders
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
| Model | Typical scope | Commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Retained advisor | Ongoing sparring, steering committees, executive meetings | 1 day a week, flexing to 2 when needed |
| Focused assignment | Programme review, health check, strategy or due-diligence input | A few weeks, fixed scope |
| Interim support | Temporary senior leadership in a CIO office or transformation | By agreement |
Experience
De Keijzer Advisory, Stetten SH
Independent executive advisory and coaching.
Fastweb + Vodafone (Swisscom group), Milan
Accountable for IT strategy and governance, architecture and security, infrastructure and workplace, corporate IT systems, and data, analytics and AI, including generative AI assistants taken into production.
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, synergies and TSA planning, and the day-one IT organisation.
Swisscom, Bern
Member of the senior management team in IT, Network & Infrastructure. Moved development from bi-modal IT to a fully continuous DevOps model in 2020 and embedded BizDevOps at scale.
Swisscom, Bern
A driving force behind the network and IT modernisation strategy built on three waves: All IP, Agility and Cloud.
HP, Greater Western Europe
Full P&L responsibility for a business of more than USD 40 million, after leading the Benelux business.
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.
Tandem Computers
Telecom software for major operators: intelligent networks, SMS, call centres and voice response.
Reference cases
Source: Swisscom
Source: Google Cloud case study
Source: Business Wire, 2020
Source: Accenture newsroom, 2018
About
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. An engineer with an MBA from Utrecht University, he is Dutch, lives in Switzerland and works in English, German and Dutch.
Away from workJohn is a certified RYA Yachtmaster Ocean, an RYA instructor for the Day Skipper course, and a keen fisherman. Long passages at sea teach the same things large programmes do: prepare well, read the conditions, and keep a calm crew when the weather turns.
Contact
Book a free intro call. A short conversation is usually enough to see whether John can help.
john@dekeijzer.ch
Phone
+41 79 875 96 77
Address
Chlosterstrasse 5
8234 Stetten SH, Switzerland