Telecom Expense Management Services

Dieter Thompson is President, Global Network Services and Private Equity. Dieter joined ISG in 2016 with the firm’s acquisition of Alsbridge and built ISG Network and Software Advisory into a key partner for clients that are increasingly looking to build networks capable of supporting their AI and digital transformations.

Dieter spent his early career with AT&T before founding Thompson Advisory Group (TAG) in 1999, a consultancy focused on telecommunications procurement and vendor management that was later acquired by Alsbridge. At TAG, he helped pioneer the development of an asset exchange approach using telecommunications credits and “non-performing” assets for Fortune 500 companies. After selling TAG, Dieter served as president of Alsbridge before helping to orchestrate the sale of the firm to ISG.

Dieter earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Memphis.

Mark has 20 years of experience in complex telecommunication systems design, architecture, development and delivery including Interactive Voice Response systems, Computer Telephony Integration, Contact Center software and hardware, Speech Recognition applications, and back-office communication platforms. Mark has extensive experience with both TDM and VoIP (SIP and H.323) telephony platforms as well as carrier network services including the Service Management System, SS7/ISDN, SIP/PSTN bridging and direct SIP peering.

What he does at ISG

Scott Bertsch mentors and builds the confidence of his 120-person team across Australia, Asia, New Zealand and India so that they can help clients focus on what they do best, and in a cost effective, bottom-line-enhancing manner.

Past achievements for clients

• Delivering $129 Million in savings in three years for a $50 Billion managed care consortium. 

• Implementing a sourcing strategy and identifying invoice and inventory errors for a top 5 US bank. This resulted in renegotiated contracts with their primary telecom and network service providers, updated inventory and more than $15 Million in first-year invoice and inventory audit savings.

• Onboarding a major financial institution client for 20+ projects for their IT organization. Scott and his team retained a new business relationship—with the same number of projects—after the CIO of that original firm relocated to another firm and reached out for Scott’s and his team’s expertise.

• Taking a holistic approach, he led the review of the key 35 technology contracts for a top 20 US bank and drove more than $50 Million in savings over three years. 

As Director of Network Services, Brad leads Network Advisory delivery and provides oversight of each client engagement, helping to develop overall strategy and key messaging. Brad has led several global network transformation engagements in addition to contract negotiations and RFPs for both wireline and wireless services. Brad’s background in the carrier space has proven integral on engagements with several major U.S. carriers. In addition, he often brings his broad international experience to projects across ISG.

Chris Gruenewald is a Director on the ISG Network Advisory Services team.

Jon specialises in the IT and data network/telecommunications sectors with over 25 years delivery, programme and transformation management experience. Jon’s business management experience includes leading the definition, design deployment and delivery of global data network services; analysis of complex sourcing service contracts; product and portfolio management.  Jon has a strong background in managing technical support, network communication infrastructures, business systems and data centre operations,  with a proven ability to plan and lead successful business system and network infrastructure design, implementation and migrations at client, national and global levels.

Rob brings over 26 years of telecommunications industry experience, including 16 years at ISG, where he leads the Network Advisory Global delivery team. Under his leadership, the team has successfully delivered over 150 transformative IT initiatives that generated significant cost savings for clients and facilitated investments in cutting-edge technology adoption. His commitment to innovation and operational excellence has earned him recognition as a trusted advisor in the telecommunications sector.

Greg is a leader in the Network Advisory practice of ISG. He provides consultative guidance to clients as they navigate through the complex world of network services sourcing. In addition to working directly with clients, Greg provides guidance to other ISG Network Advisory consultants as they lead client engagements. He has the unique ability of understanding the strategic big picture while developing and executing the appropriate negotiating tactics to achieve best in class network contracts for his clients.

Will Saybe came to ISG (Alsbridge) in 2006 with more than eight years of experience in telecommunications audit arena. Currently, Will has over eighteen years’ experience in providing short term cost out solutions to clients. He has worked with some of the largest clients in the industry and secured well over $50M in refunds for his clients over the course of his career. His focus on delivering a favorable ROI to the client projects has increased client satisfaction and repeat business for the organization. 

Geoff Wahl is a Partner at ISG.