HGC Global Communications has named Dr Frédéric Schepens as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 November 2026. He succeeds Andrew Kwok, who stepped down to pursue opportunities outside the Group and will support a smooth handover. The appointment signals HGC's intent to accelerate growth across its enterprise, consumer, carrier and international businesses while reinforcing Hong Kong's role as an international digital hub connecting Asia and the world.
Schepens brings 30 years of international telecoms experience across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. He founded and led Bayobab, MTN Group's open-access digital infrastructure business, and previously held senior carrier leadership roles at Vodafone and BICS. His background in building and scaling digital infrastructure businesses is seen as a strong fit for HGC as it expands its operations and deepens partnerships in Hong Kong, across Asia and beyond.
Darrin Webb, Executive Vice Chairman of HGC Global Communications, said Schepens knows how to work with customers and partners across markets, and that his experience aligns with HGC's expansion plans. Webb also thanked Kwok for his leadership and the trust he and the team have earned over the years.
Kwok reflected on his tenure, noting that HGC has evolved and grown stronger through rapid industry change and challenging market conditions, attributing that resilience to the company's talented and dedicated team. He expressed confidence that Schepens's exceptional international experience across networks, carrier services and digital infrastructure will lead HGC to even greater success.
In his new role, Schepens will oversee HGC's strategy and operations, with a focus on strengthening core businesses and bringing connectivity, digital infrastructure and ICT capabilities closer together. He said the goal is to help customers operate securely and adopt AI with confidence, adding that the company will be ambitious in its thinking and disciplined in its execution.
The leadership change comes as HGC continues to invest in its network and services. The company owns an extensive fibre-optic network and five cross-border telecommunications routes integrated with tier-one operators in Chinese Mainland, and connects with hundreds of international operators. It operates 19 global offices with staff presence in 33 cities worldwide, and in 2019 acquired Macroview Telecom Limited to bolster its ICT and digital services capabilities. HGC is a portfolio company of I Squared Capital, an independent global infrastructure investment manager.
Schepens's appointment is likely to shape HGC's next phase of growth, particularly as demand rises for secure connectivity and AI-ready infrastructure. His experience with open-access digital infrastructure and carrier services could help HGC deepen its wholesale partnerships and expand its international reach, while his stated focus on integrating connectivity and ICT capabilities may position the Group to capture more enterprise digital transformation spending. For more information, visit www.hgc.com.hk.
