Arqiva has appointed Simon Duffy as Chair of its Board with effect from 1 October 2026, ending Scott Longhurst's interim tenure at the head of the UK communications infrastructure company.

Chief executive Shuja Khan announced the hire on Wednesday following what he described as "a comprehensive search process." Khan called Duffy "the outstanding candidate to lead Arqiva's Board" and tied the appointment to the company's strategic execution.

Duffy brings a board-level record that spans telecoms, media, technology and entertainment. His prior executive positions include Chief Executive Officer of NTL, the UK cable operator that was a predecessor of today's Virgin Media O2, and Chief Financial Officer of Orange, the French mobile group now part of Orange S.A.

He has also held non-executive and operational roles at:

• Oger Telecom
• Wizz Air
• Millicom

He currently sits as Non-Executive Chair of Modern Times Group, Viaplay Group and LW Theatres Limited, and as a Non-Executive Director of LW Entertainment.

Khan framed the appointment as a deliberate reinforcement of Arqiva's commercial and financial bench. "His deep experience across telecommunications, media and technology, combined with his strategic insight and operational and financial expertise, will bring a valuable perspective to the Board as we continue to deliver our strategy and create long-term value," Khan said. He also thanked Longhurst for "his leadership and stewardship as Interim Chair."

What does the change signal for Arqiva's direction?

The hire lands while UK tower and broadcast infrastructure operators face simultaneous pressure: rising power costs, the long-tail decommissioning of legacy DTT spectrum, and competition from fibre and satellite in the delivery of linear and on-demand video. Arqiva's core business remains the wholesale provision of broadcast distribution, mobile network services, and public-sector connectivity, including a long-running role in the national smart-metering programme.

Duffy's prior operating stint at NTL gives the board direct consumer-connectivity experience that has been less prominent in Arqiva's recent senior leadership. His CFO background at Orange adds a mobile-operator perspective to a board more accustomed to broadcast-side commercial dynamics.

His ongoing chairmanships at Modern Times Group and Viaplay Group, two Nordic media businesses repositioning around streaming, also keep him close to the structural shift from linear TV to on-demand consumption, a transition that has direct read-across to Arqiva's broadcast distribution contracts.

Duffy, in his own statement, positioned the company as central to UK digital resilience. "Arqiva plays a vital role in the UK's communications infrastructure, providing services that millions of people and organisations rely on every day," he said. He added: "The company has distinctive capabilities, long-standing customer relationships and a critical role to play as the markets it serves continue to evolve. I am excited to work alongside the Board, Shuja Khan, his leadership team and colleagues across the business as we build on Arqiva's strong foundations, deliver its strategy and create opportunities for future growth."

Arqiva has not disclosed the term length of the appointment, compensation, or the date of its next scheduled governance update. The transition completes the move from interim to permanent chairmanship and removes one open question from the board's agenda ahead of the company's next reporting cycle.