LightSpeed Networks appoints Matthew Partridge as Managing Director

LightSpeed Networks, the LightSpeed group's infrastructure business, providing business connectivity, wholesale and network services, has appointed Matthew Partridge as Managing Director.

Partridge brings over 30 years of experience across the telecoms and connectivity sector, including senior roles at Colt Technology Services. His appointment strengthens LightSpeed Networks' commercial leadership as the business scales its engagement with mid-market and enterprise organisations, ISPs, channel partners and wholesale buyers.

The appointment comes at a point of transition in the UK connectivity market. Infrastructure investment across the sector has accelerated, and the growing demands of AI-driven workloads are sharpening buyer focus on the performance, reliability and accountability of the underlying network. Yet commercial accountability, clear operational ownership and service assurance remain less consistent across the market. It is precisely this gap that LightSpeed Networks is built to close.

At LightSpeed Networks, Partridge will lead the commercial and operational development of the business, overseeing the translation of LightSpeed Networks' infrastructure, service assurance and operational capability into commercially deliverable propositions for mid-market and enterprise organisations, ISPs, channel partners and wholesale buyers.

Matthew Partridge, Managing Director, LightSpeed Networks, said: “The UK connectivity market has matured considerably. The infrastructure conversation has largely been won. What I see now is a market that needs a different kind of argument, one built around commercial accountability, clear operational ownership and the confidence that comes from working with a provider that is genuinely responsible for the outcome, not just the contract. LightSpeed Networks has the infrastructure foundation and the operational model to make that case credibly. I am here to build the commercial structure around it.”

The appointment follows that of Ashley Griffiths as Senior Sales Director, who joined LightSpeed Networks earlier in 2026 to lead its direct enterprise and partner routes to market. Together, Partridge and Griffiths strengthen LightSpeed Networks' commercial leadership across enterprise, wholesale and partner engagement, supporting the business' primary routes to market.

Liam Hickey, CEO, LightSpeed Group, said: “The businesses and partners we work with need a connectivity provider that takes genuine ownership of the outcome, not just the contract. What we are building at LightSpeed Networks is the infrastructure, the operational model and the commercial leadership to deliver exactly that. Matthew and Ashley further strengthen our commercial leadership, enabling us to take that proposition to market with even greater depth and clarity. That is what our customers and partners deserve.”

LightSpeed Networks is built on owned network capability across the East of England, East and West Midlands, delivering Ethernet, dedicated internet access and wholesale connectivity underpinned by SLA-backed service assurance and direct operational ownership. The business supports mid-market and enterprise organisations, public sector bodies, ISPs and channel partners through direct, partner and wholesale delivery routes.