Vonage Announces New CEO

Niklas Heuveldop has been appointed as Vonage‘s new CEO.

Ericsson, which acquired Vonage in July 2022, announced that Heuveldop, currently Ericsson’s Head of Market Area North America, has been named both Vonage CEO and Head of Business Area Global Communications Platform, beginning February 1, 2024.

Heuveldop said:

I am thrilled but also humbled to be offered the opportunity to ensure that we leverage Vonage’s capabilities and the 5G innovation platform to their full potential – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I move on knowing that we have the best talent in the industry to serve our customers, and Yossi will continue to strengthen our local capabilities.”

Ericsson credits Heuveldop with demonstrating leadership across various executive roles within the business. His strategic guidance played a pivotal role in enhancing its presence in North America, resulting in substantial growth of Ericsson’s market share among critical customers in the region.

Additionally, Heuveldop’s role was instrumental in securing the groundbreaking $14 billion deal with AT&T, according to Börje Ekholm, President and CEO of Ericsson. This solidified Ericsson’s standing and laid a robust foundation for sustained success in the market for years ahead. Ekholm also stated that Heuveldop was a catalyst in the company’s organisational transformation, championing ethics, compliance, and operational excellence as integral elements of its corporate strategy.

“I’m very pleased that Niklas has accepted to lead Business Area Global Communications Platform at this pivotal time,” said Ekholm. “The Vonage acquisition and our investments in the global network platform are foundational to our long-term strategy execution, driving growth in both the enterprise segment and reinforcing our network infrastructure business.”

Rory Read, currently the Head of Business Area Global Communications Platform and CEO of Vonage, is set to transition from his current role on February 1, 2024. He will then assume the role of an advisor to the Business Area before concluding his tenure with Ericsson at the end of Q1 2024.

“We thank Rory for his dedication and contributions to the integration of Vonage into Ericsson,” Ekholm added. “The Vonage business and technology remain key to execute on our strategy to expand in Enterprise and help enable operators to monetise the network features in 5G. We are discussing network APIs and communications solutions with all customers today, as they see this as a major opportunity to monetise the networks and, in turn, drive further investments in mobile infrastructure.”

Yossi Cohen, currently Head of Strategy, Technology, Marketing and Business Development within Ericsson’s Market Area in North America, will replace Heuveldop as Head of Market Area in North America from February 1, 2024. Cohen will become a member of Ericsson’s Executive Team and report to the CEO.

How Was Vonage’s 2023?

In March, Vonage launched AI-powered features for its Video API, built for audio, media processing and end-to-end encryption security.

The AI capabilities can be embedded into customers’ existing applications for real-time connections and more innovative video interactions. Vonage says the service aims to “leverage technology in their digital transformation journeys to accommodate growing consumer expectations to engage on their channels of choice”.

The company also released a no-code and customisable video conferencing API, which can be integrated into user workflows without requiring support from developers. Meetings API can be embedded into internal and external workflows with any website or platform, creating visual engagement features designed to enhance customer and employee interactions.

In June, Vonage announced it was opening an R&D Centre of Excellence in India to foster innovation and reinforce its expansion into the Asia Pacific region. Vonage India’s R&D team intends to innovate new solutions across its business communications portfolio, particularly its Vonage Communications Platform (VCP). The Centre will be based in Bengaluru, the heart of India’s thriving tech and communications industry.

In September, Vonage and Flowcode partnered to produce a “first-of-its-kind” communications tool, empowering customers to immediately communicate with brands, small businesses, and service providers.

With “Flowconnect”, consumers scan a QR code to begin communications with a customer service team immediately. This is possible through integrating live chat using QR technology from the direct-to-consumer platform Flowcode, in parallel with Vonage’s APIs.