Herbert Blum
Partner,
Head of our global Communications, Media & Entertainment practice, with more than 21 years of experience leading engagements focused on the network service provider, telecom equipment and private equity spheres.
About Herbert
Expertise
- Specializations in 5G, capital effectiveness and B2B
- Frequent author of, and speaker on, various telecom topics for a globally distributed audience
- Board member of Telecon, Inc.
- Founder and former chief executive of HPC M
Herbert Blum is the leader of our global Communications, Media & Entertainment practice.
Since joining the firm more than 21 years ago, Herbert has advised various leading network service providers and their equipment vendors, as well as large private equity investors.
As an industry, the coming decade will bring more change than the last two and half decades combined. The impact of virtualization of connectivity is not yet fully appreciated...it will be monumental. Brace for impact!
He is a recognized thought leader on the telecom industry's future evolution and is frequently published and quoted on topics including 5G network evolution, CAPEX, and carrier strategy.
Prior to joining the firm, Herbert founded HPC M and built a 130-FTE-strong salesforce for telecom services in western Canada. He also worked for Fonorola (Sprint/MCI).
Herbert earned his MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. He also holds an M.A. in Economics from Queen's University, an honours B.A. in Economics from Bishop's University and the Zwischenprüfung in Theoretical Mathematics from the Albert-Ludwigs University (Germany). He has accumulated a host of honors and awards for his academic achievements.
Herbert currently serves on the Board of Telecon, Inc., Canada's largest telecommunication network infrastructure services provider. He volunteers his time to both advancing the independence of underprivileged women in India and to the Melinda & Bill Gates Foundation. Additionally, he actively supports charities in the Greater Toronto Area.
Recent Insights
- “Telecom M&A: Here Are the Latest Deal Trends Worldwide,” Interactive, February 2024
- “Telecommunications M&A,” M&A Report, January 2024, Report
- “Bain & Company appoints Daniel Hong as leader of its Americas Communications, Media & Entertainment practice,” Press release, January 2024
- “Tectonic Shifts in Telecoms: How to Win in the New Competitive Arenas,” Brief, August 2023
- “Telcos, Stop Debating Generative AI and Just Get Going,” Brief, April 2023
In the News
- “Bain & Company appoints Daniel Hong as leader of its Americas Communications, Media & Entertainment practice,” Press release, January 2024
- “The AI-enabled telco takes shape: Why telcos are using artificial intelligence to rollout their 5G services,” Press release, October 2021
- “Telcos of the future: Six business models for the next era,” Telecoms, April 2021, Telecommunications
- “Kang’s Take: New Era for Telecom Investors,” WSJ Pro, May 2017, Telecommunications
- “Price war expected to hit Verizon and AT&T profits ,” The Financial Times, April 2017, Telecommunications