15 Telecom Recruiters Helping Build the Future of Connectivity
Meet the top telecom recruiters who are shaping the future of connectivity. These experts lead the way in sourcing the best talent for innovative telecom projects. ↓
The telecom industry is evolving, driven by advancements in wireless communications, 5G infrastructure, and emerging technologies. At the heart of this transformation are the recruiters who connect top-tier talent with the companies shaping the future of connectivity. From wireless engineers to network infrastructure specialists, these professionals play a critical role in driving digital innovation and scaling telecom capabilities.
Below is a curated list of standout telecom recruiters who have been instrumental in sourcing high-demand talent across the globe, each contributing to the industry’s dynamic growth.
- Carrie Charles
- Kary Raddant
- Emanuela Aureli
- Jay Rosenzweig
- Rick Stern
- Ian Raddant
- David Coreen
- Alistair Rynish
- Ann Carlsen
- Robert Boroff
- George Barnes
- Andy Baker
- Andy Steinem
- David Taylor
- Ronesh Puri
Below we provide more detailed profiles of each recruiter.
Carrie Charles
Nationality: American
Carrie is the CEO and co-founder of Broadstaff, a fast-growing staffing firm specializing in wireless communications and 5G infrastructure talent. A former telecom professional and U.S. Marine, Carrie has over 20 years’ experience and is a prominent thought leader on telecom workforce trends.
Under her leadership, Broadstaff has become a go-to recruiting partner for cell tower companies, network integrators, and carriers, connecting them with RF engineers, fiber technicians, OSP construction managers, and more. Carrie is also known as the host of the “Let’s Get Digital” podcast on RCR Wireless, where she interviews industry executives about telecom innovation and hiring.
She actively champions diversity and mentorship in the telecom/tech space – serving as Executive Director of the Women’s Wireless Leadership Forum (WWLF) and winning multiple awards (Inc. 5000, EY Winning Women, Tampa Bay CEO of the Year) for Broadstaff’s growth under her guidance.
- LinkedIn: Carrie Charles
- X (Twitter): @CarrieCharles
Kary Raddant
Nationality: American
Kary is the CEO and owner of TekCom Resources, a woman-owned telecom staffing firm she co-founded in 2005. A veteran with 30+ years in telecom recruiting, Kary has matched top wireless and network infrastructure talent with carriers and vendors for decades.
She oversees TekCom’s strategic direction and has grown it into a national recruiting partner for wireless/5G build-outs and broadband projects. Kary is celebrated for her long-term relationships across the industry and her hands-on approach in mentoring recruiters and ensuring client satisfaction.
Under her leadership, TekCom has thrived as a go-to source for telecom engineering contractors and executives.
- LinkedIn: Kary Raddant
Emanuela Aureli
Nationality: British
Emanuela is a global practice leader for Technology, Media & Telecommunications at Spencer Stuart, one of the world’s top executive search firms. With 20+ years of executive search experience, she specializes in placing C-level and board executives in telecom and digital infrastructure companies worldwide.
Emanuela has led senior appointments across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, bringing deep expertise in communications services and networking technologies. In 2024 she was promoted to lead Spencer Stuart’s global TMT practice, reflecting her reputation as a trusted advisor to telecom clients navigating rapid change.
She also serves as Chair of the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC), underscoring her standing in the search industry.
- LinkedIn: Emanuela Aureli
Jay Rosenzweig
Nationality: Canadian
The future of telecom lies in attracting visionary leaders who can not only manage technology but also drive societal impact. Building a world-class team starts with understanding the human element of innovation.
Jay is the founder and CEO of Rosenzweig & Company, a global executive search and leadership advisory firm headquartered in Toronto. Recognized internationally, Jay has advised telecom, media, and tech giants on building world-class leadership teams – he’s an expert in “designing and attracting world class teams” for clients across North America, Europe, and Asia.
He is also a champion of diversity in corporate leadership, publishing the annual Rosenzweig Report tracking women in top roles. Jay’s multidisciplinary background (lawyer, investor, human rights advocate) gives him a unique perspective on talent; he’s frequently interviewed by outlets like The New York Times and The Globe and Mail on the future of work and tech industry trends. In telecom circles, Jay has placed board directors and CEOs for wireless carriers and advised startups in 5G and satellite communications. Highly networked and socially active, he often tweets and speaks on equality and innovation in the workforce.
- LinkedIn: Jay Rosenzweig
- X (Twitter): @JayRosenzweig
Rick Stern
Nationality: American
Rick is the founder and CEO of Stern Recruiting, launched in 2025 to revolutionize telecom talent acquisition. A telecom industry veteran, Rick previously founded Nitel, a managed telecom services provider he grew into a $180M enterprise before its acquisition by Comcast.
At Nitel, he hired thousands of telecom professionals across operations, engineering, product, sales, and more. This firsthand experience exposed him to the inefficiencies of traditional recruiting, inspiring him to create Stern Recruiting with a “by telecom experts, for telecom companies” approach.
Rick is highly respected for his leadership in telecom (including being a multi-time EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist) and now applies that knowledge to help telecom and tech firms secure top-tier talent through innovative methods and technology.
- LinkedIn: Rick Stern
Ian Raddant
Nationality: American
Ian is the President and co-founder of TekCom Resources, working alongside Kary Raddant in building one of the leading telecom staffing firms in the U.S. Ian has 20+ years of recruiting experience in wireless and network infrastructure roles. He oversees TekCom’s national delivery of contract and permanent placement services, specializing in staffing projects for cellular tower upgrades, 5G small cell deployments, fiber-optic network builds, and more.
Ian’s deep technical knowledge (covering everything from RF engineers and DAS designers to OSP fiber crews) and hands-on approach ensure TekCom can rapidly supply qualified candidates for both carriers and turnkey vendors. He is a trusted partner to many telecom hiring managers for his responsiveness and candor.
Ian is also active in industry associations and often shares hiring market updates on TekCom’s blog (including a recent reflection on 30 years in telecom recruiting and how passion and persistence shaped his career).
- LinkedIn: Ian Raddant
David Coreen
Nationality: American
David “The Reverend” is President of DAVRON, a top wireless and telecommunications recruiting agency in the US. With over 20 years of experience, David leads a team that staffs critical wireless, broadband, and fiber-optics roles nationwide.
He has built Davron’s reputation on deep technical knowledge and data-driven headhunting techniques – the firm uses advanced talent mining and a 25-step vetting process to pinpoint the top 5% of candidates for telecom engineering, sales, and management positions. Colleagues praise David’s hands-on mentorship and “people-first” approach, which has fostered a strong internal culture (Davron employees rank him as an exceptional leader).
Under his guidance, Davron has over two decades of wireless staffing success and is recognized as a premier telecom talent provider.
- LinkedIn: David Coreen
Alistair Rynish
Nationality: British
Alistair is the co-founder and CEO of First Point Group (FPG), a global telecom recruitment agency established in 2004. He has 25+ years in telecom and technology recruiting, building FPG from a two-person startup into a worldwide leader in network engineering talent solutions.
Under Alistair’s leadership, FPG expanded to 120+ recruiters across Asia, EMEA, and the Americas, serving major telecom operators, equipment vendors, and integrators in over 180 countries. He is known for connecting companies with the engineers “who drive the internet,” from RF and fiber specialists to 5G and cloud networking experts.
Alistair’s firm has earned awards as one of Europe’s fastest-growing companies and is renowned for its deep specialization in telecom/IT recruitment.
- LinkedIn: Alistair Rynish
Ann Carlsen
Nationality: American
Ann is the founder and CEO of Carlsen Resources, an executive search firm she launched in 1989 focusing on cable and telecommunications leadership. Over a 30+ year career, Ann has placed more than 2,000 executives in senior roles and is credited with shaping the leadership ranks of the cable/telecom industry.
She is a renowned thought leader on the future of work and a passionate advocate for diversity in telecom – earning honors such as the NCTA Vanguard Award, WICT Woman of the Year, and Cable Hall of Fame induction for her contributions. Ann built Carlsen Resources into the cable industry’s leading search firm, known for its discretion and results, and she has mentored countless rising stars (especially women) in telecom management.
he also served as President of WICT (Women in Cable & Telecom) and sits on multiple industry boards.
- LinkedIn: Ann Carlsen
Robert Boroff
Nationality: American
Robert Boroff is Managing Director and CEO of Reaction Search International (RSI), a global executive search firm named among America’s best recruiting firms by Forbes in 2022 and 2024. Robert has over 20 years of experience in talent acquisition, and under his leadership RSI has grown to operate in 35+ verticals including telecommunications.
He is known for his strategic approach to CEO/CTO searches and for implementing rigorous assessments to ensure quality hires. RSI (headquartered in Newport Beach) has been recognized for its industry expertise and custom-tailored recruitment processes, which Robert often attributes to his team’s “expertise in specific verticals” and relationship-focused service. A prolific writer and speaker on leadership hiring trends, Robert posts insights on LinkedIn about telecom workforce strategy and has helped RSI achieve repeated Forbes honors.
- LinkedIn: Robert Boroff
- X (Twitter): @RobertBoroff
George Barnes
Nationality: British
George Barnes is the co-founder and CEO of Hamilton Barnes, a UK-based recruitment firm at the forefront of global telecoms and network engineering hiring. With over a decade in networking recruitment, George helped launch Hamilton Barnes in 2014 with a vision to become the world’s leading provider of telecom and network talent.
He has since expanded the firm to multiple continents, building teams that source specialists in areas like routing & switching, radio frequency (RAN), fiber, and cybersecurity. George is known for championing early-career talent – his company runs a “Empowering Future Network Engineers” program – and for fostering a vibrant online community (he frequently shares market insights on podcasts and LinkedIn). Under his leadership, Hamilton Barnes has earned accolades as a Financial Times 1000 Fastest Growing Company and a Sunday Times “Best Place to Work”.
- LinkedIn: George Barnes
Andy Baker
Nationality: British
Andy Baker co-founded Glotel (originally Comms People) in 1989 and became its CEO, pioneering telecom-specialized recruiting in the UK. In the 1990s, Andy and his partner Les Clark grew Comms People into the UK’s leading telecom recruitment firm, riding the GSM mobile boom and later rebranding as Glotel plc.
Andy oversaw Glotel’s international expansion to 24 offices worldwide – including Europe, the US, and Asia – supplying telecom engineers and executives during the dot-com and 3G wireless eras. Known for his entrepreneurial grit (in the early days he famously ran the business from a tiny office with a single phone and even used a former pizza van as a company car), Andy built a culture of hiring staff with technical telecom backgrounds and providing intensive training. Glotel eventually became a publicly traded company and a top global telecom staffing provider under Andy’s leadership.
- LinkedIn: Andy Baker
Andy Steinem
Nationality: American
“Andy” Andrea Steinem is the CEO of Dahl-Morrow International (DMI), an executive search firm renowned for placing leaders in satellite communications, wireless, and technology sectors. She joined DMI in 1991 and helped build it into a leading boutique recruiting top telecom and IT executives for clients in defense, government systems integrators, and commercial telecom companies.
Andy has decades of experience identifying transformative leaders – from CEOs of satellite broadband ventures to CTOs of wireless startups. She emphasizes fundamentals and long-term fit; her “keys to success” philosophy (as highlighted in WashingtonExec) includes exploring all options, persistence, and mentoring others. Widely respected in Washington D.C. circles, Andy Steinem has advised countless telecom and tech firms on leadership succession and has been a steady voice promoting more women in technical executive roles.
- LinkedIn: Andrea Steinem
- X (Twitter): @DMI_Steinem
David Taylor
Nationality: British
David is Group Managing Director and a founding director of First Point Group, working alongside Alistair Rynish to grow FPG into a worldwide telecom recruiting powerhouse. He brings 16+ years of telecom recruitment expertise, having overseen FPG’s expansion to a $88 million business supplying telecom talent in over 190 countries.
David leads FPG’s global client teams and has spearheaded major hiring projects for 5G rollouts, fiber network builds, and IoT initiatives across multiple continents. A familiar figure at industry events, he frequently speaks about telecom hiring best practices and has helped FPG win awards for its growth and service quality. David’s background also includes executive management outside of recruitment (he previously managed a multinational hospitality consultancy), giving him a broad business perspective.
He also sits on boards of other recruitment firms and a UK charity.
- LinkedIn: David Taylor
Ronesh Puri
Nationality: Indian
Ronesh is Managing Director of Executive Access India and one of India’s most respected headhunters, often tapped for C-suite searches in telecom, technology, and other industries. With 27+ years as a headhunter, he has personally placed over 700 senior executives across sectors – a significant number of them in telecommunications companies, from mobile operators to equipment manufacturers.
Ronesh is known for his rigorous search process and straight-talking advice: he’s a regular commentator in Economic Times and BusinessWorld on hiring trends and leadership (warning companies about the cost of hiring mistakes, for example). Under his leadership, Executive Access has been a premier executive search firm in India’s telecom boom, helping multinational carriers set up leadership teams during market entry and guiding domestic telcos in leadership transitions.
Ronesh also advocates for improving hiring processes industry-wide and mentors new recruiters in Asia.
- LinkedIn: Ronesh Puri
Sum Up
These highly regarded telecom recruiters have played a pivotal role in shaping the future of connectivity by sourcing top-tier executives, driving digital innovation, and accelerating growth in emerging telecom markets. However, working directly with these leaders can be difficult due to their high demand and often significant cost.
A smart alternative is partnering with EchoGlobal, where our deep industry expertise and vast global network can quickly connect you with the perfect telecom talent to fuel your growth.
Note: We’ve dedicated significant time and effort to creating and verifying this curated list of top professionals. However, if you believe a correction or addition is needed, feel free to reach out. We’ll gladly review and update the page.
Lou Reverchuk