Michael "Mac" McHale
President, Quintillion Networks

I hired Tom initially to help me launch a video service over the phone lines for the phone company in Hawaii. From that humble beginning 15 years ago, Tom and I engaged in a range of ventures including: co-founding a federal grant-funded wireless broadband venture to serve rural American populations in Colorado, consulting on fiber to the home ventures in Germany, the turnaround and sale of the phone company in the USVI and more recently engaging in pursuit of a grant-funded sub-sea fiber pipeline across the Aleutian Islands.

Tom has an uncommon ability to dissect any problem, isolate the root cause and provide a vast range of practical, implementable and effective solutions to solve for that problem in short order. However, his strategic problem-solving skills are just a preamble to his masterful ability to execute and implement the strategies he identifies. Implementing new strategies represents change, which can be difficult for established teams to adjust and accommodate new processes and behaviors. It is in this part of implementation where Tom’s skills shine. His integrity, authenticity, and professionalism, ever-present in his kind, respectful manner make his contributions welcome to all constituencies. He strives to ensure everyone on the team understands and “owns” their part of the value chain. Then, like a conductor of a symphony, he harmonizes the efforts of people and departments into a high-functioning end-to-end system that delivers superior service while recognizing and empowering the people that enabled the delivery of superior results. This virtuous cycle creates sustainable operations that pay long-term dividends.

Through the years, I have come to admire Tom’s ability to surmount every challenge that comes his way. Much of this ability is due to his perpetual optimism and belief in his ability to find the path to “positive territory” on any subject.  If there were one person you would want to have at your side on a journey into the most challenging situations or the unknown, Tom would be the ideal companion.  

Leo Hindery, Jr.

InterMedia Advisors, LLC

I have had the pleasure of knowing Tom French for over 10 years. I hired Tom to take the helm of the marketing organization at TCI, the largest cable MSO in the U.S. at a time when subscriber counts had been in decline for over 18 months and we had exhausted countless cycles and resources to regain sales momentum. Through his efforts, the company quickly gained customers and revenue and he restored level of customer loyalty that had been absent for many years.

Tom came highly recommended by Rupert Murdoch, for whom Tom had worked and made considerable contributions to his initial, short-lived foray into the US satellite television arena. I was impressed immediately by Tom’s interpersonal skill but my admiration for his attitude, work ethic, creativity and passion for the business inspired me throughout our time working together. I can say with confidence that the same was true for all of those who were fortunate enough to come in contact with him during his time running the marketing of the company and in his endeavors since. 

Tom brings a uniquely suited skill set to technology-driven, service-oriented, consumer-facing business. I know his background contains 3 satellite TV start ups, a wireless internet start up, definition and business planning for the roll-out of an IPTV service. In every one of these service oriented businesses, his role was to drive revenue through targeting and attracting customers of all kinds, keeping their interest and loyalty high, all the while seeking new, meaningful opportunities to increase ARPU. His success, both in start-ups and at TCI make him a highly qualified sales and marketing professional with the unique ability to drive results in situations where no precedent for success exists and practical innovation is required.  

While the impact he made to all of those businesses could be measured in shareholder value and customer satisfaction, the real contribution Tom makes to the organizations he chooses to associate himself with is that of his indomitable spirit and inspirational leadership qualities. 

The opportunity presented by the deployment of broadband services in rural America may present the singular best fit for his skills of any he might elect. The organization that is sufficiently fortunate to have Tom on their management team is destined for success and the assurance of a highly rewarding journey by his hand.

Jim Chessie
Owner, Lighthouse Business Solutions

It has been my pleasure to get to know Tom as we worked closely over the past 4 years. Initially, I got to know Tom as CEO of ZoonoUSA commercializing a novel antimicrobial technology in the USA – a venture that he took from a failing business to a successful exit in a few short years. 

I was immediately impressed by his agile mind and his uncanny way of turning highly complex technical concepts into easily understandable, benefit-driven value propositions. I have come to regard him not only as a true expert in this unique technology but his high level of acumen and experience across all facets of business from manufacturing and logistics to finance to sales and marketing has been equally impressive. 

One of his most admirable qualities presents itself when he is presented with challenges outside his expertise. He readily acknowledges his limitation but his need to find the answer, pursuing an in-depth understanding of the subject and then turning it into accurate, reliable answers with actionable next steps shows a driven, curious mind, a desire to deliver the highest levels of service to his clients  and a relentless dedication to continuous self-improvement. 

Over time, I have come to know Tom as a truly caring person who shares his knowledge and expertise with others with the goal of inspiring them to achieve extraordinary results. His thoughtfulness and integrity have made him a dear friend and an outstanding professional asset to me in my business.