Leading New Zealand technology and telecommunications solutions company Argent Networks has announced that it has appointed Larry Barker as its new CEO to take the company forward as part of a global strategy formulated by founder and Chief Executive Chris Jones and his Board several months ago.

The appointment of Larry Barker as the new CEO is part of a planned exit strategy designed by Chris Jones and his Board in order to manage Argent’s next growth phase. Chris Jones will remain active on the Argent Board as a non-executive director and will also pursue his other directorships and business interests.

Chris Jones says that he is proud to leave the CEO role in very good hands. “Larry joins the company at a great time just as it is set to become a much more powerful and recognized force in the billing and OSS telecommunications sector globally. I have no doubt that Larry’s extensive experience of international telecommunications billing markets will boost Argent and take the company to the next level,” says Jones.

“Argent is poised for great things in the next few years. Larry joins the company with a solid platform on which to achieve this, along with a superb Board and dedicated team. Everyone at Argent is working together as one to make the company a leading provider of advanced billing solutions to the international telecommunications industry.”

Chris Jones also says he is pleased to be stepping back from the company he has successfully led since 2001.

“I’ve started up several leading technology companies and in every case I’ve known that there is a right time to hand the reins to someone else. In this case Argent’s future growth will be inextricably linked to the international and North American experience that Larry Barker brings so now is the right time.”

Jones says that his aim is to ensure that the transition for the new CEO is as smooth as possible.

“For now I want to focus on getting Larry settled in so he can take Argent forward as quickly possible.”

Prior to joining Argent, Larry Barker was President, Chairman and CEO of US-based and NASDAQ listed Visual Networks for three years prior to its takeover in January 2006. Visual Networks provided network and application performance management software and hardware for the large enterprise. Larry’s key achievements included restoring growth and profitability, raising financing, launching a successful international expansion. Larry executed the board strategy to sell the company to Fluke Networks in 2006.

Before Visual Networks, Larry also worked for ADC Telecommunications of Minnesota for six years as President where he was responsible for billing and network surveillance solutions. As President of the software systems division Larry managed ADC’s 2,000 person workforce in Canada, US, Ireland, UK and Australia and was instrumental in making the global business profitable.

Larry was also CEO and President of Computer Sciences Corporation’s (CSC) Intelicom Division for three years, and in this time turned around the performance of the business. Among his other achievements as CEO he also managed a global expansion of offices, and was responsible for making several key strategic acquisitions.

Larry also helped turn around CSC’s European division of Intelicom. As Vice-President and Managing Director, Larry implemented the company’s European strategy significantly growing revenue and establishing distribution throughout Europe. In addition, Larry built strong relationships with major European distributors and telecommunications partners Larry’s career experience includes time with IBM, AT&T, Sykes Datatronics and Teradyne Corporation. He also successfully established his own independent consulting company, Stanford Associates which specialized in emerging telecommunications companies.

About Argent Networks
Argent Networks provides real-time mediation, rating, billing and customer care solutions for prepaid and postpaid voice, data and content. Argent’s convergent billing solutions enable communications service providers to provision, rate and bill for 3G/2.5G and 2G mobile and provide value added services solutions including SMSC, MMS and VMS. Argent’s customers include the world’s largest communication providers, servicing and billing millions of subscribers in over 25 countries across the globe. For more information, please visit www.argentnetworks.com