Press Release
Heidelberg, 27 April 2026
Eurescom designates Anastasius Gavras to take over as Director when David Kennedy retires in June
21st Shareholder Meeting Marks Leadership Transition After 21 Years
On the 22nd of April 2026, Eurescom GmbH, hosted its 21st Shareholders’ Meeting in Heidelberg, Germany, marking both a significant milestone in the company’s governance and a moment of transition in its leadership.
The Eurescom shareholders’ meeting brought together representatives from leading European telecommunications organisations to review Eurescom’s activities and set a new course for the future of the company.
This 21st shareholders’ meeting had to decide on the appointment of a successor to the long-serving Director, David Kennedy, as he will retire in June this year after 21 years in this role. Having joined Eurescom in 1997 as a programme manager, David took over as Director in 2005 and played a central role in restructuring the company into a recognised provider of programme and project management services for European research, development and innovation initiatives in the ICT sector.
David is pleased to look back over the various initiatives over the years where he, and the Eurescom team, have been heavily involved in shaping large European ICT initiatives. These have included the NEM initiative, the Future Internet PPP, 5G-PPP, the Eureka CELTIC-NEXT cluster and more recently the 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G IA) as well as the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU). As he completes his term of office his main reaction is surprise “that 21 years can go so fast!!”
During his tenure, Eurescom strengthened its position at the heart of European collaborative research, contributing to major initiatives and supporting partnerships across industry and public sectors. His leadership has been instrumental in expanding the organisation’s portfolio and reinforcing its mission to enable innovation through collaboration.
The shareholders also welcomed the appointment of Anastasius Gavras as the new Director, effective 1st July 2026. With more than 37 years of experience in research and programme management, he will keep aligning and adding longstanding expertise within Eurescom, since he joined the company in 1999 and contributed extensively to European ICT projects and initiatives. In his new role, he plans to further strengthen the relationship between the company and its shareholders to help shape the telco innovation space of the future.
Anastasius said: “The future of telecommunications is being shaped by those with a long-term vision who actively pursue innovation. As a company, we aim to provide the foundation that enables this, through strong partnerships, shared values, and a clear sense of direction. I would like to thank the Eurescom shareholders for the trust placed in me, and I look forward to working with the telco ecosystem towards our shared objectives.”
As Eurescom enters this new chapter, the transition in leadership reflects both continuity and renewal, ensuring that the organisation remains well-positioned to support Europe’s evolving digital and technological ambitions, with an emphasis on resilience, sovereignty and competitiveness.
About Eurescom
Founded in 1991 by major European telecommunications operators, today, the company continues to serve a diverse client base, including telecom operators, global ICT manufacturers, multinational initiatives, and European institutions. Its multinational team of 17 highly skilled professionals from 7 countries based in Heidelberg, works alongside an extensive network of international experts to deliver flexible and effective support for complex research and innovation programmes.
The company has more than three decades of experience in managing multinational collaborative R&D projects, programmes, and initiatives in the ICT sector.The Eurescom current shareholders are Deutsche Telekom AG, Orange SA, BT (Netherlands) Holding B.V., Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation S.A. (OTE), A1 Telekom Austria AG, Telenor ASA, Magyar Telekom Telecommunications Plc., Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA), Siminn (Iceland Telecom Ltd.), and the Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services. The members included Deutsche Telekom AG and Orange SA.
Website: https://www.eurescom.eu/