CFO interview: Zayo Europe’s Jennifer Smith on contract-led capex, partnerships and AI-driven demand
15 May 2026 | Transaction
Article | PDF | Raising finance | Financial Sponsors & Lenders
“As AI increases the scale of infrastructure projects, partnerships are becoming essential to stay close to demand while managing capital risk.”
Jennifer Smith, CFO, Zayo Europe
Analysys Mason Principal Daniel Ponte Fernández spoke with Zayo Europe CFO Jennifer Smith about what differentiates B2B fibre from fibre to the home (FTTH), how Zayo Europe approaches success-based and expansionary capex, and why partnership models may become increasingly important as AI accelerates demand.
In the edited highlights from their conversation, Daniel and Jennifer cover:
- B2B fibre versus FTTH models
- contract-led capex and capital discipline
- the growing importance of partnerships
- AI and evolving demand dynamics.
CFO interview: Zayo Europe’s Jennifer Smith on contract-led capex, partnerships and AI-driven demand
Read the interview
Jennifer Smith has over two decades of financial leadership experience in telecoms and technology
Author
Daniel Ponte Fernández
Principal, expert in transaction servicesRelated items
Client project
Powering India’s largest IPO (Jio Platforms) with independent market insights
Article
Where will US digital infrastructure capital go next?
Article
CFO interview: Pure DC's Mike Schwartz on lender appetite and the changing capital stack for data centres