Allirajah Subaskaran
Group Chairman and Founder of Lyca Mobile group of companies
Allirajah Subaskaran is the Founder and Chairman of the Lycatel and Lyca Mobile Group of companies. Subaskaran is a high-profile industry thought leader, a visionary, and entrepreneur with over 18 years entrepreneurial experience in the telecommunications industry.
Subaskaran founded Lycatel, an international calling card company, with the clear vision of growing the brand into a global leader. Subaskaran’s inspirational leadership spearheaded the company’s growth from 10 employees to 1,500 by 2006, and expansion into 23 markets including the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, USA, and Canada.
In 2006, Lyca Mobile was launched with the chairman’s vision to create a benchmark model for MVNOs, with a mission of building the global number one mobile international calling brand. Lyca Mobile now operates in 23 countries across European, Australian, and US markets with the largest international footprint of any international MVNO and over 16 million customers worldwide.
Subaskaran’s business acumen has led him to acquire and build numerous other companies spanning entertainment, financial services, travel, healthcare, media, marketing, and hospitality. His business prowess has been recognised by many prestigious panels, leading to him receiving industry awards such as the
Platinum Award for Business Person of the Year at the Asian Achievers Award ceremony, The International Business Awards’ Gold Stevie Award for Entrepreneurship, Asian Voice Political and Public Life’s ‘International Entrepreneur of the Year’, and The Golden Peacock Award for Entrepreneurship.
Subaskaran has always had a strong desire to use his personal success to give back to the wider community. Most notably, he founded The Gnanam Foundation in 2010 along with his wife Prema Subaskaran to provide support to orphans, women, and men who’ve lost their livelihood and to the elderly who have been abandoned without care. Most recently, he was personally commended by the UK Secretary of State for providing increased mobile data allowances to disadvantaged pupils during the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Subaskaran is a proud father of three boys and is a member of the Institute of Directors, UK.
Premananthan Sivasamy
Deputy Chairman
Premananthan Sivesasamy oversees strategic, commercial, and financial matters across the 23 countries in which Lyca Mobile operates.
Working closely with Group Chairman Allirajah Subaskaran, with whom he has shared a long and prosperous working relationship dating from the very beginnings of their careers, and is adept in tackling challenges associated with rapid financial and geographic expansion. He plays a crucial role in the induction of new country teams to the Lyca Mobile ethic and business practices, commanding a high and consistent level of service and practice across all divisions.
After graduating with a BA Honours Degree from Middlesex University, where he read Accounting and Finance, Prem held a number of high profile roles within the Prepaid International telecommunications industry. These include the position of Managing Director of the United Networks Calling Card Division and a post as Managing Director of Voice Telecom where he held overall responsibility for driving revenue for both the company’s calling card and residential telecoms products.
Reuniting with his colleague Subaskaran to oversee the launch of Lyca Mobile in 2006, Prem’s experience in telecoms and his skilled orchestration of international growth has been instrumental in the Group’s continuing success.
Richard Schafer Â
Group Chief Financial Officer
Richard Schafer is responsible for the Group’s finance activities including financial accounting and operations, internal and external financial reporting, financial planning and analysis, tax, treasury, and investor relations. He also plays a key role in working together with internal and external stakeholders to deliver on the Group’s commercial and financial objectives.
Richard has an extensive senior financial leadership track record, having worked in the domestic UK and international telecommunication sector for more than 22 years. He has worked for some of the UK’s leading telecommunication companies including Three UK, Vodafone UK, Onecom, and Lebara.
At Three UK, Richard helped build, launch, and grow the UK’s first pure 3G telecommunication company and delivered what was, at the time, one of largest European telecommunication outsourcing agreements between Three UK and Ericsson, valued at over £1bn. At Vodafone UK, Richard provided financial leadership to the pioneering site sharing joint venture between Vodafone and O2. During his time at Onecom, one of the UK’s leading total communications companies, Richard supported the commercial and financial objectives of the business through organic as well as inorganic growth. More recently, Richard was the Group Chief Financial Officer at Lebara.
Born in the UK, Richard is a dual British and German national, and was educated in England. Richard holds an undergraduate degree in International Business and German from Aston University, a postgraduate degree in Economic Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and is a qualified chartered accountant registered with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
Richard is married to Niki and together they have three teenaged children. The family live in Henley-on-Thames and share their home with a dachshund called JJ. When he’s not working, Richard enjoys running both for its meditative and fitness benefits. He’s completed races of several distances, including full and half-marathons. Richard is an avid supporter and sponsor of his local rugby club, the Henley Hawks.
Michael LandauÂ
Financial Adviser to the Chairman
Michael is Financial Adviser to the Chairman, an experienced Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and was formerly Group Chief Financial Officer of Lyca Group – a role he held for over 11 years.
Michael has entrepreneurial Board experience in both public and private Companies, as a CFO as well as in Corporate Development. Michael also has experience as a Senior Management Consultant at Price Waterhouse London, in which he became a specialist in global cash management, as well as Corporate Finance consultancy experience in the United States, the Middle East, and India via his own boutique firm. Prior to joining the Lyca Mobile Group, Michael was Group CFO in a Hong Kong and Singapore Group that built a technology manufacturing operation in Northern France.
He has been Chief Financial Officer in Kalido, a technology company owned by Royal Dutch Shell, steering Kalido to an exit from Shell via an MBO backed by two leading Venture Capital organisations. Michael was also head of Corporate Development and External Financial Relationships, and the main Board Director for Staffware plc, an international technology BPM Group. Whilst at Staffware, he took it from AIM to a full Techmark listing on the London Stock Exchange and closed two international acquisitions.
In addition, Michael has senior Corporate Treasury experience: most recently as Group Treasury and Tax Director in Rank Group Plc, a major international leisure and gaming company in which he gained a significant amount of experience in the banking, bond, and credit markets. Michael has also been Treasury and Credit Director with the international technology group Madge Networks N.V which listed on NASDAQ and in which he led the finance team for the acquisition of a large Israeli subsidiary.
Chris TooleyÂ
Special Advisor to the Chairman
Premananthan Sivesasamy oversees strategic, commercial, and financial matters across the 23 countries in which Lyca Mobile operates.
Working closely with Group Chairman Allirajah Subaskaran, with whom he has shared a long and prosperous working relationship dating from the very beginnings of their careers, and is adept in tackling challenges associated with rapid financial and geographic expansion. He plays a crucial role in the induction of new country teams to the Lyca Mobile ethic and business practices, commanding a high and consistent level of service and practice across all divisions.
After graduating with a BA Honours Degree from Middlesex University, where he read Accounting and Finance, Prem held a number of high profile roles within the Prepaid International telecommunications industry. These include the position of Managing Director of the United Networks Calling Card Division and a post as Managing Director of Voice Telecom where he held overall responsibility for driving revenue for both the company’s calling card and residential telecoms products.
Reuniting with his colleague Subaskaran to oversee the launch of Lyca Mobile in 2006, Prem’s experience in telecoms and his skilled orchestration of international growth has been instrumental in the Group’s continuing success.
Indraprakash JegatheesanÂ
Chief Operating Officer, Lyca Mobile
Michael is Financial Adviser to the Chairman, an experienced Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and was formerly Group Chief Financial Officer of Lyca Group – a role he held for over 11 years.
Michael has entrepreneurial Board experience in both public and private Companies, as a CFO as well as in Corporate Development. Michael also has experience as a Senior Management Consultant at Price Waterhouse London, in which he became a specialist in global cash management, as well as Corporate Finance consultancy experience in the United States, the Middle East, and India via his own boutique firm. Prior to joining the Lyca Mobile Group, Michael was Group CFO in a Hong Kong and Singapore Group that built a technology manufacturing operation in Northern France.
He has been Chief Financial Officer in Kalido, a technology company owned by Royal Dutch Shell, steering Kalido to an exit from Shell via an MBO backed by two leading Venture Capital organisations. Michael was also head of Corporate Development and External Financial Relationships, and the main Board Director for Staffware plc, an international technology BPM Group. Whilst at Staffware, he took it from AIM to a full Techmark listing on the London Stock Exchange and closed two international acquisitions.
Paul MallettÂ
Group Head of Talent Acquisition & HR
Michael is Financial Adviser to the Chairman, an experienced Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and was formerly Group Chief Financial Officer of Lyca Group – a role he held for over 11 years.
Michael has entrepreneurial Board experience in both public and private Companies, as a CFO as well as in Corporate Development. Michael also has experience as a Senior Management Consultant at Price Waterhouse London, in which he became a specialist in global cash management, as well as Corporate Finance consultancy experience in the United States, the Middle East, and India via his own boutique firm. Prior to joining the Lyca Mobile Group, Michael was Group CFO in a Hong Kong and Singapore Group that built a technology manufacturing operation in Northern France.
He has been Chief Financial Officer in Kalido, a technology company owned by Royal Dutch Shell, steering Kalido to an exit from Shell via an MBO backed by two leading Venture Capital organisations. Michael was also head of Corporate Development and External Financial Relationships, and the main Board Director for Staffware plc, an international technology BPM Group. Whilst at Staffware, he took it from AIM to a full Techmark listing on the London Stock Exchange and closed two international acquisitions.
Satkunanathan JogaratnamÂ
Chief of Product & Pricing
Premananthan Sivesasamy oversees strategic, commercial, and financial matters across the 23 countries in which Lyca Mobile operates.
Working closely with Group Chairman Allirajah Subaskaran, with whom he has shared a long and prosperous working relationship dating from the very beginnings of their careers, and is adept in tackling challenges associated with rapid financial and geographic expansion. He plays a crucial role in the induction of new country teams to the Lyca Mobile ethic and business practices, commanding a high and consistent level of service and practice across all divisions.
After graduating with a BA Honours Degree from Middlesex University, where he read Accounting and Finance, Prem held a number of high profile roles within the Prepaid International telecommunications industry. These include the position of Managing Director of the United Networks Calling Card Division and a post as Managing Director of Voice Telecom where he held overall responsibility for driving revenue for both the company’s calling card and residential telecoms products.
Reuniting with his colleague Subaskaran to oversee the launch of Lyca Mobile in 2006, Prem’s experience in telecoms and his skilled orchestration of international growth has been instrumental in the Group’s continuing success.
Kashmir NijarÂ
Group Chief Commercial Officer
Michael is Financial Adviser to the Chairman, an experienced Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and was formerly Group Chief Financial Officer of Lyca Group – a role he held for over 11 years.
Michael has entrepreneurial Board experience in both public and private Companies, as a CFO as well as in Corporate Development. Michael also has experience as a Senior Management Consultant at Price Waterhouse London, in which he became a specialist in global cash management, as well as Corporate Finance consultancy experience in the United States, the Middle East, and India via his own boutique firm. Prior to joining the Lyca Mobile Group, Michael was Group CFO in a Hong Kong and Singapore Group that built a technology manufacturing operation in Northern France.
He has been Chief Financial Officer in Kalido, a technology company owned by Royal Dutch Shell, steering Kalido to an exit from Shell via an MBO backed by two leading Venture Capital organisations. Michael was also head of Corporate Development and External Financial Relationships, and the main Board Director for Staffware plc, an international technology BPM Group. Whilst at Staffware, he took it from AIM to a full Techmark listing on the London Stock Exchange and closed two international acquisitions.
Kaddamban RadhakrishnanÂ
Group Technical Director
Premananthan Sivesasamy oversees strategic, commercial, and financial matters across the 23 countries in which Lyca Mobile operates.
Working closely with Group Chairman Allirajah Subaskaran, with whom he has shared a long and prosperous working relationship dating from the very beginnings of their careers, and is adept in tackling challenges associated with rapid financial and geographic expansion. He plays a crucial role in the induction of new country teams to the Lyca Mobile ethic and business practices, commanding a high and consistent level of service and practice across all divisions.
After graduating with a BA Honours Degree from Middlesex University, where he read Accounting and Finance, Prem held a number of high profile roles within the Prepaid International telecommunications industry. These include the position of Managing Director of the United Networks Calling Card Division and a post as Managing Director of Voice Telecom where he held overall responsibility for driving revenue for both the company’s calling card and residential telecoms products.
Reuniting with his colleague Subaskaran to oversee the launch of Lyca Mobile in 2006, Prem’s experience in telecoms and his skilled orchestration of international growth has been instrumental in the Group’s continuing success.
Rob ShardlowÂ
Chief Sales Officer
Michael is Financial Adviser to the Chairman, an experienced Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and was formerly Group Chief Financial Officer of Lyca Group – a role he held for over 11 years.
Michael has entrepreneurial Board experience in both public and private Companies, as a CFO as well as in Corporate Development. Michael also has experience as a Senior Management Consultant at Price Waterhouse London, in which he became a specialist in global cash management, as well as Corporate Finance consultancy experience in the United States, the Middle East, and India via his own boutique firm. Prior to joining the Lyca Mobile Group, Michael was Group CFO in a Hong Kong and Singapore Group that built a technology manufacturing operation in Northern France.
He has been Chief Financial Officer in Kalido, a technology company owned by Royal Dutch Shell, steering Kalido to an exit from Shell via an MBO backed by two leading Venture Capital organisations. Michael was also head of Corporate Development and External Financial Relationships, and the main Board Director for Staffware plc, an international technology BPM Group. Whilst at Staffware, he took it from AIM to a full Techmark listing on the London Stock Exchange and closed two international acquisitions.
Rich HastingsÂ
Chief Legal Officer
Premananthan Sivesasamy oversees strategic, commercial, and financial matters across the 23 countries in which Lyca Mobile operates.
Working closely with Group Chairman Allirajah Subaskaran, with whom he has shared a long and prosperous working relationship dating from the very beginnings of their careers, and is adept in tackling challenges associated with rapid financial and geographic expansion. He plays a crucial role in the induction of new country teams to the Lyca Mobile ethic and business practices, commanding a high and consistent level of service and practice across all divisions.
After graduating with a BA Honours Degree from Middlesex University, where he read Accounting and Finance, Prem held a number of high profile roles within the Prepaid International telecommunications industry. These include the position of Managing Director of the United Networks Calling Card Division and a post as Managing Director of Voice Telecom where he held overall responsibility for driving revenue for both the company’s calling card and residential telecoms products.
Reuniting with his colleague Subaskaran to oversee the launch of Lyca Mobile in 2006, Prem’s experience in telecoms and his skilled orchestration of international growth has been instrumental in the Group’s continuing success.
Umesh TripathiÂ
Chief Digital Officer
Umesh Tripathi is responsible for Lyca Mobile’s Digital Business, including digital acquisition, customer engagement & retention and online customer experience. In addition, he is tasked with the overall digital transformation agenda of building best-in-class digital platforms for customers and internal/external stakeholders. He also plays a key role in delivering on Lyca Mobile’s overall financial goals.
Umesh has an extensive senior digital leadership track record, having worked with organisations across the globe to drive their digital transformation and digital business agendas for more than 25 years. He has worked with organisations like Three UK, Vodafone Australia, Telefonica SA and Sunrise as a consultant. Umesh is an avid digital marketer and believes strongly in the power of digital to drive business growth.
Umesh is an Indian national who was educated in the top-tier engineering and management institutes in India. He is an Engineer from IIT (ISM), Dhanbad, India and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India.
Umesh is married to Deepa and together they have two daughters Khushi and Astha. The family lives in Bangalore and shares their home with Bolt, a Pug. When he’s not working, Umesh enjoys giving back to the community. He was one of the founders of Awsar, an NGO supporting education of underprivileged children. He is the founding member of iimagineindia which is a philanthropic fund looking to empower NGOs and social entrepreneurs in the field of education. He is a cricket fan and enjoys all forms of Cricket. He is a supporter of Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL.