CityFibre announces leadership transition: Simon Holden to succeed Greg Mesch as Chief Executive Officer

2^nd September 2025, London: CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent full fibre platform, today announces that its founder and Chief Executive Officer, Greg Mesch, has been appointed Vice Chairman, and Simon Holden, who is currently CityFibre’s Group Chief Operating Officer, is succeeding him as Chief Executive Officer.

Greg has led CityFibre for 15 years and has been the driving force behind its emergence as the UK’s leading digital infrastructure challenger, transforming the sector with innovative products, competitive economics, and exceptional service. Under his leadership, the company has raised over £8bn and built a market-leading fibre platform that reaches over 4.5 million premises and serves almost 700,000 customers, as well as thousands of businesses and public sector sites. CityFibre is a key delivery partner in the UK government’s digital agenda and the cornerstone of the nation’s competitive digital infrastructure market.

Simon Holden joined CityFibre in 2019 as Group Chief Operating Officer and Board member. He has over 25 years’ experience in telecoms and infrastructure, and before joining CityFibre, was a partner at Goldman Sachs where he held senior roles in the Investment Banking division including Global Chief Operating Officer, Vice-Chairman EMEA and Global Head of Telecom Investment Banking. Simon has been instrumental in shaping CityFibre’s strategy, overseeing its commercial affairs, and helping drive its financing efforts and rollouts.

Greg and Simon take up their new roles with immediate effect.

Steve Holliday, Chairman, said: “The Board would like to pay tribute to Greg’s extraordinary vision, leadership and impact. Over the last 15 years, he has been tirelessly committed to transforming the UK’s telecoms market for the benefit of consumers and the broader economy. Under his leadership, CityFibre has emerged as an unstoppable force in UK infrastructure, and I am delighted that he will continue to contribute to its future as Vice Chairman.

“In Simon Holden, we have a proven leader who has helped shape CityFibre’s strategy and operations. His sector expertise and deep institutional knowledge make him the ideal person to guide CityFibre through its next stage of growth. Under Simon’s leadership, CityFibre will stay firmly focused on executing its long-term strategy, expanding its market presence, and delivering lasting value as the UK’s full fibre challenger.”

Greg Mesch, Vice Chairman, said: “Founding and leading CityFibre over the past 15 years has been the privilege of a lifetime. I’m incredibly proud of what our team has achieved, unleashing digital infrastructure competition to drive investment and innovation, and unlocking immeasurable benefits for consumers, businesses and the UK. We have overcome many challenges, and I can say with confidence that we have helped change the country for better, for ever.

“After 15 years at the helm, the company is in the strongest shape ever, and it’s the right moment for me to step back from day‑to‑day operations whilst continuing to support CityFibre’s long‑term direction as Vice Chairman. Simon has been central to our success since he joined six years ago, and I have every confidence in his leadership. I look forward to backing him and our mission in my new role.”

Simon Holden, CEO, said: “I’m honoured to step into the role of CEO and to build on the incredible progress the business has made. We have a winning strategy and I’m excited to lead the team on this next phase of our journey, scaling our reach, deepening customer relationships, and ensuring we continue to operate the UK’s best network.

"CityFibre is the UK’s full fibre challenger, a trusted, high-performance wholesale alternative that drives innovation, competition and long-term growth for the UK economy. But more than that, we’re here to create opportunity – enabling technologies like AI to reach every household, helping people, businesses and communities to do more, reach further and stay connected to what matters.”