MEF Executive Questionnaire #6: Javier Lorente, Telefonica

MEF continues to seek new ways to profile its members and promote the thought-leadership of the senior executives within these companies. We are pleased to launch the MEF Executive Questionnaire to reveal the real people behind the industry in an informal and entertaining manner.

This will be a regular feature of the MEF blog, so make sure you subscribe via email or RSS. If you are a senior executive from one of our member companies and would like to be featured then please contact MEF Marketing Director, Stephen Jenkins.

The sixth in the series is from Javier Lorente, Global Project Manager - Mobile Data Group at Telefónica.

1. Please describe briefly your main company activities and your role within that organisation
Well, Telefónica is a well known Tier 1 operator, present in 25 countries, with 260 million customers. It is the 1st International integrated Telco operator by customer base, but also is among the 40 largest companies in the world by market capitalization – all markets.

My role in Telefónica is to deliver worldwide solutions for the Group, in the field of Mobile Data and Contents. I define, set up, and deploy services across all regions.

2. Without necessarily revealing any confidential information, please outline the principal business models your company uses
Telefónica’s main way to monetize its assets is by charging its customers in ‘the phone bill’, but has also other business models in the B2B space and even Venture Capital investments.

3. What has been your company’s greatest achievement to-date?
I think that Telefónica market and financial position is one of the best among the incumbent operators. Telefónica has spread a lot in the last 10 years with very smart strategic investments.

If I have to talk about the market I know better, the Spanish one, I would name the Corporate and prepay mobile services that were quite ahead the market and have allow Spain OB to keep an enviable position.

4. What is your company currently working on that is going to move the industry forward?
Convergence, convergence, convergence. Triple and quadruple play, 3-4 screens…

5. What is exciting you most in 2010 (either personally or professionally)?
This Global role that has brought me to the UK from the sunny Spain and all the movements around applications, where I’m involved are really two interesting challenges for this year!

6. What is the most important piece of technology in your life?
Mobile Phone for sure and the mobile broadband; I’m also fan of digital cameras, and hope to have some day a proper domotic system at home.

7. What mobile device(s) do you use?
Difficult to say, due to my work I used to change twice a month! Now I’m relying on a Touch Screen Samsung and a vintage Pocket PC from HP.

8. What’s your favourite application?
Maps and games

9. What’s your ringtone?
Coldplay or a very freak Spanish band I won’t mention.

10. Which mobile industry blogs do you regularly read and why?
Total Telecom and Telecompaper, they are not only mobile, but sometimes act for me as a one stop shop.

11. What is the biggest mobile content issue that is likely to affect the industry within the next 12 months?
We will see a lot of movement around the Applications, possibly changing the scenario with new announcements. This will be the year for Mobile Store Wars. I’m anxious to know who are the Jedis of this story, who are the Empire and the Rebels… and among all, who is Chewbacca? :)

12. Which other MEF member organisation do you most admire?
I have a deep respect for all organizations participating. All are good in what they do!