Bill Sandiford

Bill is a Consultant in Mercenarius' Telecommunications group.  He is a recognized leader in the telecommunications and internet infrastructure sectors, bringing over two decades of strategic expertise to public and private clients navigating complex regulatory, operational, and policy landscapes. With a unique ability to bridge technical depth and business strategy, Bill advises organizations on high-stakes decisions at the intersection of network infrastructure, digital policy, and competitive market dynamics.

As former President and Chairman of the Canadian Network Operators Consortium (CNOC), Bill represented the national interests of Canada’s independent internet service providers - championing market access, regulatory fairness, and infrastructure investment. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees at the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN), where he has helped shape governance strategies for North America’s internet number resource management.

Bill has served in senior leadership and advisory capacities with the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), the Alberta Internet Exchange (ABIX), and the Toronto Internet Exchange (TorIX), advising on growth strategy, platform scalability, and multi-stakeholder governance. He has deep functional experience in areas including internet exchange architecture, ISP operations, cloud and distributed systems, and spectrum management.

Known for his steady, solutions-focused approach, Bill leverages his background as a founder and former President/CTO of a national ISP to help clients navigate market disruption, scale infrastructure, and unlock new business models in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Bill holds a degree in Computer Science from Laurentian University and is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors program at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. Outside of work, Bill is an aviation and scuba enthusiast, and an active member of the Canadian hockey community.