Peter Bonfield
Title: Sir Peter Bonfield
Birthdate: June 3, 1944
Birthplace: Letchworth, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Occupation: Business Executive
Profile: Director of numerous companies in the computer and technology field. Knighted in 1996.
Website: http://www.sirpeterbonfield.com/
Number of Quotes: 19
BT needed to be more fleet of foot, to be more agile, to be more focused on the customer, and to be more innovative.
This quote summarizes the driving philosophy behind his major strategic review and restructuring of BT in the early 2000s, often
referred to as the Project Jaguar
transformation plan. It was a call to modernize the then-slow-moving telecommunications giant.
Doing the things we do now and doing them better, cheaper and faster will take us so far.
But it will not take us far enough. We're going to have to do new things in new ways.
Don't get obsolete. The technology business is international and moves incredibly quickly. You have to be
moving forwards constantly or you will go under. You have to keep trying as some things work and some don't. It's
important to stick with what you know and stay current. My work now is all interrelated. I believein taking risks.
Good luck to students! Tomorrow is such an important day for many young people, along with their families, carers, friends and loved ones – it is A-level results
day! With nervous feeling tummies, shaking hands, feelings of hope and fear, envelopes will be opened and results read. Some of you reading this will be feeling some
of these symptoms already! For students seeking to study at university, this moment will have a profound impact not just on their next step, but on their lives going
forward. Will they make the grades needed for their first choice – or their reserve choice; will they need to enter the clearing process to find an alternative? This
is such a significant moment for so many because A level results day represents a really important transition point for young people, whether they are preparing for
higher education, apprenticeships, the world of work or travel. It represents a point of change and a look to the future. For those who choose university, it will
not only expand their academic knowledge, but will also prepare them for careers and contributions in their sector of choice. University is also an incredibly
formative time, where each student discovers so much more about themselves, develops independence, makes friendships – many of which last a lifetime. In our amazingly
and wonderfully diverse London, students who choose the capital learn amongst a community of so many different views and perspectives that help enrich understanding
and outlook of the world. I am feeling those nerves for tomorrow too! Good luck and all best wishes to all of you for whom tomorrow is so important.
I am not going to get into a public slanging match.
Typically said in response to criticism from shareholders or industry rivals, this reflects
his preference for a measured, corporate approach to conflict, avoiding public disputes.
I have been very fortunate because I have been in the business of semiconductors, computers and telecoms for more than 50 years.
I think there is a huge opportunity for BT in the new media space.
A forward-looking statement from the late 1990s or early 2000s, recognizing the coming convergence of
telecommunications, media, and the internet. He was positioning BT to be a key player in this emerging digital landscape.
It is a great privilege to be appointed as the next chairman of NXP.
A standard, formal statement released in a press announcement when he was appointed Chairman of the semiconductor company NXP in 2008.
It's about creating a culture where people are empowered to make decisions and are not afraid to take risks.
This quotation relates to his management style and his efforts to change the internal culture at BT,
moving it away from a traditional, hierarchical structure to one that was more dynamic and entrepreneurial.
My message that I'd like to give to all of you that have graduated from IIT University Westminster is remember your IIT remember your Westminster.
No one has ever accused us of lagging behind. In fact, I am willing to turn an
entire company upside down if it's time to do that. We're in perpetual evolution.
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent on things that matter.
Technology does not damage society, it makes it better.
The big danger in mega-mergers is that they are seen as a mating of dinosaurs.
The board and I have agreed that it is the right time to hand over to a new leader.
This is the classic, diplomatic phrasing used in the official statement announcing his resignation as CEO
of BT in 2001, following a period of significant debt and a sharp fall in the company's share price.
The world of telecommunications is changing at a bewildering pace.
A common observation made during speeches and interviews in the late 1990s, capturing the essence
of the dot-com boom and the rapid technological and regulatory changes affecting the industry.
We have to manage the business for the long term, not just for the next quarter's results.
This reflects a recurring theme in his leadership, often stated in response to pressure from City analysts
and shareholders for short-term performance. It was a defense of his long-term strategic investments.
We must not underestimate the challenge, but I am confident we have the people and the plan to succeed.
A standard piece of corporate optimism and reassurance, likely used in internal memos
or public statements during difficult periods of restructuring or market uncertainty.
You cannot cost-cut your way to prosperity.
A key business philosophy quote, emphasizing that while efficiency is important, sustainable growth
comes from innovation, investment, and building new revenue streams, not just from reducing expenses.
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