Q & A with Tim Ringsdore

15 Minutes with…

Tim Ringsdore, CEO of the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority

CONGRATULATIONS ON BECOMING THE NEW CHAIR OF THE SMALL NATIONS REGULATORS FORUM. WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO BRING TO THE ROLE?

I am looking forward to expanding on the great work Allyson has completed during her tenure as Chair by sharing my business and regulatory experiences. My background is from the telecommunications commercial world and I’m now regulating some of the companies I used to work for. I have a very firm view on ensuring that operators are providing the most efficient, secure and reliable networks for the benefits of consumers and businesses. I think regulators have a poor reputation and I would like to raise the profile of the SNRF and the challenges small regulators face, but also the benefits that proportionate and pragmatic regulation can deliver for small nations.  Hopefully together we can make sensible recommendations to our various governments regarding the support they need to provide to their regulators to ensure regulation is effective in their regions.

HOW IS THE ‘JERSEY ROADS CHALLENGE’ GOING, AND WHO ARE YOU RAISING MONEY FOR?

I have just completed walking every road in Jersey in support of two charities, the Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) and Autism Jersey. This involved walking over 700 miles since January at weekends, early mornings and evenings. It was a fantastic experience as our island is so beautiful and I managed to raise over £5,000.

ALTHOUGH SMALL NATIONS HAVE MUCH IN COMMON, THERE ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES. YOU’VE WORKED IN THE CARIBBEAN – HOW DO YOU COMPARE THE CHALLENGES FACING A DEPENDENCY LIKE JERSEY WITH THOSE CONFRONTED BY, FOR EXAMPLE, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO?

I think all small nations have similar issues especially dealing with international companies. These companies can have tough business cases and may attempt to intimidate and influence regulatory decisions to their benefit, so having a clear government policies, independence, laws, licence conditions and the powers to investigate and penalise organisations is essential for effective regulation. So if the foundations of your organisation are not sufficient then you are better spending considerable time acquiring the right arrangements that best suit your needs. It took us two years to find the right balance but it has paid dividends as we are now a well-respected and effective organisation.

To support our aims we must all develop high quality internal resource, but this is not easy, so to compliment this I have always developed a combination of external expert support and close relationships with other similar organisations to help with specific challenges. Keeping very close stakeholder relationships is essential no matter where you are and this is vital to ensure everyone understands your roles, responsibilities, your strategy and how regulation will benefit everyone.  Being in a small jurisdiction provides us with this crucial advantage and can raise brand awareness and help develop your reputation.

WHAT INSIGHTS DOES EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY GIVE YOU AS A REGULATOR? HAS IT MADE YOU MORE OR LESS SYMPATHETIC TO THE PROBLEMS FACING THE TELECOMS SECTOR?

I spent 15 years as MD of various telecoms companies so my knowledge of the challenges and opportunities in the commercial world is strong.  This has provided me with a huge advantage when there are service incidents or commercial disputes with other operators. I do understand what is technically and commercially possible so they cannot brush issues under the carpet and I know the questions to ask which makes operators consider how they approach regulatory issues the next time we engage.  I have empathy with the challenges operators face especially with future investment, so I am always looking for proportionate and pragmatic ways of finding solutions that ultimately benefit citizens and the Island economy.

However I have limited sympathy where there have been issues that could have been avoided through negligence, reckless behaviour or collusion and I have no hesitation in using our powers to penalise organisations if required.

Quickfire:

WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?

Six volumes of Winston Churchill’s diaries, inspirational!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION?

Nashville, where our daughter lives, and the Caribbean

DOGS OR CATS?

Love them both, but dogs are a man’s best friend

WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST OBJECT YOU’D SAVE IF YOUR HOUSE WAS ON FIRE?

Family photos. We lost too many in the Caribbean during Hurricane Irma

WHAT SONG WOULD YOU LIKE PLAYED AT YOUR FUNERAL?

Kylie Minogue, ‘Lucky Lucky Lucky’. I remind my wife of this most days (a 40 plus year joke)

ITALIAN, FRENCH OR CURRY?

French, its less than 13 miles from our shore so we love it