Company boss killed in road crash

TRIBUTES have been paid to the chief executive of a Midland firm who has been killed in a motorbike crash.

Mark Plato, the chief of Warwickbased Telent, which provides communications and IT systems, died on Sunday, September 8.

David Naylor-Leyland, chairman of Telent, said: “Mark was a hugely respected and much liked individual both within the company he ran for so long and also within the wider telecom and transport industries. His loss will be keenly felt by all who knew him.

“Not only have we lost a remarkable CEO but a friend. Mark died pursuing one of his great passions, motorbiking. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this very sad and difficult time.”

Mr Plato (pictured) was appointed to Telent’s board of directors in September 2006 and had been CEO of the company since its formation in January 2006.

Previously he had joined

Marconi in November 1995 as managing director of the services business, which he grew successfully.

In January 2001, Mr Plato was appointed managing director of the Enterprise Networks business within the Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

In September 2002, he became successively executive vice president and managing director of the group’s value added services division.

The division addressed the needs of European Enterprise customers and expanded significantly under his control.

Earlier in his career, Mr Plato held a number of senior leadership roles in service-related businesses with London Underground.