John Porter hands over the Telenet CEO role to international telecom executive Rocío Lorenzo

Mechelen, 14 October 2026 - As from November 2nd, John Porter (68) will step down as CEO of Telenet Group Holding nv. He is handing over the role to Rocío Lorenzo, an experienced international telecom executive originally from Spain, who currently serves as Executive President and General Manager of telecom operator Cable & Wireless Panama (CWP). John Porter feels the time is right to embark on a new chapter in his career. Rocío Lorenzo will continue to drive the company’s strategic trajectory within Liberty Global’s Ziggo Group, the newly formed Benelux telecommunications group bringing together VodafoneZiggo in the Netherlands and Telenet in Belgium. Porter will work closely with Lorenzo throughout the remainder of 2026 to ensure a smooth and orderly transition.

John Porter has led Telenet since 2013 and, prior to that, held senior leadership positions within the international telecommunications, media, and entertainment industries for more than 30 years. Over the past 13 years, John Porter has become one of the leading figures in the Belgian telecom sector. Under his leadership, Telenet grew from a traditional Flemish cable operator into a broad, data-driven and digital first telecom, media and entertainment player. To achieve this, he focused on scaling up operations, network innovation, and establishing a strong foothold in the local media sector, with key milestones including the acquisition of BASE Company, the creation of Play Media and the launch of the network infrastructure company Wyre.

In recognition for his outstanding contribution to the industry, John Porter was inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame in 2022.

After nearly four decades in senior leadership roles, Porter says the time has come for a new phase.

John Porter:

“It has been a privilege to help build such an innovative company, one that consistently leads the way in pushing the boundaries of the industry. Thanks to the agile organizational structure we have built and the unique entrepreneurial mindset of our people, we have grown from a challenger into an established player without losing the challenger spirit. Now that Telenet is entering a new chapter within Ziggo Group’s Benelux structure, I feel the time is right to spend more time with my family in Australia, while remaining active in ways that allow me to support, inspire and contribute. I am very pleased to be handing over the torch to such an experienced international telecom leader as Rocío Lorenzo. I have worked closely with her before, when she advised Telenet on some of our most strategic transformations and I am confident that, building on the strategy we have developed, she will lead Telenet into a strong new phase of growth.”

Mike Fries, CEO of Liberty Global:

“John has been a tremendous leader at Liberty Global and a great friend for more than three decades. He brought that rare combination of entrepreneurial drive and operational excellence. He leaves Telenet a strong digital-first business that is exceptionally well positioned for its future as part of Ziggo Group. We all wish John the best in whatever he does next, and I take great comfort in knowing that he will always remain a champion of Liberty Global and trusted friend and advisor.
​I am also delighted to welcome Rocío as the incoming CEO of Telenet. I have known and worked with Rocío for over a decade, and as Chairman of Liberty Latin America, I’ve watched her grow into a fantastic leader and CEO in the region. Rocío brings deep telecoms expertise, hands-on leadership and a track record of turning strategy into results. She is ideally placed to lead Telenet into its next chapter.”

Rocío, who was born in Spain and studied in Germany, has been a Senior Vice President of Liberty Latin America since 2021 and has served as Executive President and General Manager of Cable & Wireless Panamá (CWP) since January 2024. Before joining Liberty Latin America, she was a Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where she led the company’s telecommunications practice from 2007 onwards. In this capacity, she was also involved in several strategic transformation projects at Telenet, including the acquisition of BASE Company in 2016.

At Cable & Wireless Panamá, she was responsible for overseeing the company’s operational performance, including strategic planning, technology evaluation, product development and implementation, sales, operations, and customer service. She also oversees Digital, Content, Interconnect and Roaming activities across Liberty Latin America.

Rocìo Lorenzo, who will be part of the Ziggo Group leadership team and will report to Ziggo Group CEO Stephen van Rooyen, is excited to join the Telenet team.

Rocío Lorenzo:

“I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to lead Telenet and work alongside such a talented team within the broader Liberty footprint. This is a company at the leading edge of innovation, with a tremendous opportunity to build on the strong foundation already in place and bring faster, better, and more reliable connectivity to even more people. I can’t wait to get started, spend time with our teams and customers, and work together to deliver great experiences and create value for all our stakeholders.”

Stephen van Rooyen, CEO of Ziggo Group:

“With over 20 years of international experience as a recognized telecom expert who also knows the local market in Belgium, I’m confident Rocìo Lorenzo will lead Telenet into its next chapter as we build the Benelux connectivity champion.”

John Porter will work closely with Rocío Lorenzo to ensure a smooth and orderly transition as Telenet becomes part of Ziggo Group, the newly formed Benelux telecommunications company that will combine VodafoneZiggo in the Netherlands and Telenet in Belgium.