Technology Magazine October 2022 | Page 100

JONATHAN COLE DIRECTOR , DEFENCE , BT

Jonathan ( Jon ) Cole is the BT

Defence Director , operating as a part of BT Enterprise . He leads the Profit and Loss account , which includes business development , sales , major bids , service operations and contract management . His business unit currently provides services to the Ministry of Defence through Defence Fixed Telecommunications System ( DFTS ) and Integrated User Services ( IUS ) and some other contracts that are crucial to Defence ’ s role .

Jon is excited to be leading his team at a time of great change for defence . He is committed to working with his customers and partners to help deliver a modern , secure digital backbone that users can exploit . BT is a trusted partner with world-leading technology products and services that can assist defence in many ways in pursuit of the national interest .

Prior to joining BT , he completed a 35-year career in the British Army , culminating at Major General as the Army ’ s Director for Information , which included being Chief Information Officer at Board level . He had a wide range of operational , policy and acquisition roles , predominantly in Digital & Information Technology , Intelligence and Security . He holds the honours of CB and OBE for his service .

A Chartered Engineer with the Institute of Engineering and Technology , he has a BEng ( Hons ) in Electronics , an MSc in Defence Technology , and an MA in International Security and Strategy .

He is an active participant in a range of activities including road cycling , hillwalking , running , surfing , paddle boarding and skiing – all of which he enjoys with his wife and his four ( now adult ) children . He is a member of his local church , and he is also active in support of charity work , predominantly as Colonel Queen ’ s Gurkha Signals and a board member of the Gurkha Welfare Trust .

100 October 2022