Spectrum appoints Deane Jessep to drive sovereign AI strategy
Spectrum has appointed Deane Jessep as Chief Technology Officer, signalling a targeted approach to issues affecting New Zealand's enterprise and government markets in the coming years.
Jessep brings significant leadership experience from roles within both startup and established technology organisations, and is tasked with shaping Spectrum's offerings to address challenges related to cloud expenditure, artificial intelligence (AI) implementation, and burgeoning data sovereignty concerns.
Discussing his new role, Jessep said, "New Zealand's enterprises are at a crossroads, technology is only valuable when it delivers tangible, real-world outcomes. For many technological ambitions, have outrun strategic thinking, skills, and governance. My mission at Spectrum is to close that capability gap. We are not just a vendor; we are an outcome-focused technology partner that provides the expertise to master complexity, not just adopt it."
Spectrum's revised strategy under Jessep comprises five core product lines. These are designed to contain costs, strengthen security, and increase operational flexibility for large organisations operating in a multi-cloud landscape.
Product strategy
The five product lines are: Hyper-Converged and Enterprise Computing Platforms (PaaS), Network as a Service (NaaS), Assessment and Monitoring, Cyber Resilience and Data Protection, and Sovereign AI and Innovation. Each is intended to target a specific, high-priority pain point reported among Spectrum's client base.
The PaaS offering seeks to address what Jessep describes as the "hyperscaler hangover" by enabling organisations to manage high-performance private and sovereign cloud platforms. This approach enables clients to regain control by bringing selected workloads back in-house, which may assist organisations in better managing costs, improving performance, and meeting specific security requirements.
The NaaS solution focuses on secure, software-defined networking and advanced firewall capabilities for customers managing disparate and distributed environments across multiple clouds. As enterprise network complexity mounts, this service aims to reduce risk and simplify operations.
Assessment and Monitoring combines security operations centre (SOC) functions with platforms for Governance, Risk and Compliance, as well as penetration testing and ISO auditing. The goal is to provide visibility and oversight necessary for governing expansive digital estates often found within government and enterprise sectors.
Cyber Resilience & Data Protection combines data backup, modern management, and resilience strategies to mitigate the growing threat of cyber incidents. The inclusion of immutable backup solutions reflects industry recognition that data protection is fundamental to continuity planning.
The Sovereign AI & Innovation line is intended to bridge what Jessep characterises as the "AI chasm" by developing practical, locally hosted AI solutions focused on robust data governance. This extends beyond basic tools to deliver substantial value at an enterprise scale.
Industry context
Marty Bennett, Country Manager, commented on Jessep's appointment: "Deane's pragmatic, and detail orientated approach is exactly what the market needs. His focus on delivering measurable outcomes is instrumental as we help our clients navigate the challenges of cloud repatriation, AI governance, and the new sovereign imperative."
Spectrum has established long-term relationships in Enterprise Computing through engagements with vendors such as IBM, Nutanix, HPE, and Cohesity. The company's management believes that as AI adoption accelerates, new technology challenges are poised to emerge, presenting unique strategic and operational considerations that cannot be addressed by traditional cloud models alone.
Jessep concluded, "The promise of massive cloud cost savings has proven to be a fantasy for many. My focus is on delivering proven, sovereign solutions that provide predictable costs and tangible value. It's time to master technology, not just rent somebody else's computer."
