This latest announcement follows a number of significant acquisitions in Germany during 2000, including e.comp an Internet service provider based in Darmstadt, Frankfurt-based Ominilink, Stuttgart-based Seicom, and Bonn-based IVM. In total, Nextra has purchased four ISPs in Germany since November 1999, which the company believes is of Europe’s largest and most attractive Internet markets.
Commenting on the appointment, Morten Lundal, Nextra’s managing director, stated “Nextra is already one of Germany’s top 10 ISPs, but our aim is to strengthen this position in the coming months to become one of the leading communications service providers, offering unrivalled levels of service to our customers. This appointment provides Nextra in Germany with added momentum to carry this aspiration through and we are delighted to have Rex on board.“
Rex Stephenson added: “The recent acquisitions of ISPs in Germany are testament to Nextra’s intentions for the country. I am looking forward to leveraging these purchases to create a strong presence for the the company as part of Nextra’s intention to be a leading IP operator for the European business market. This is an exciting time both for me personally and for Nextra.“
Stephenson earned a London University degree while serving in the British Army. He is a fellow of the UK Institution of Electrical Engineers (FIEE) and an alumnae of the US Defense Systems Management College, where he received an education in project management.
After leaving the British Army he joined Cable & Wireless as Regional Operation Manager and later the German Civil Aviation Authority (DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH) to form a new project management division and to introduce a project management culture to the newly privatised company. Stephenson subsequently headed the Worldwide Networks Division of Deutsche Telekom before becoming the senior Deutsche Telekom executive in Global One as Executive Vice President of Global Operations.
He is married with two adult children.