Hundreds face axe at O2 as firm shakes up management
HUNDREDS of jobs are set to be axed at O2 as the firm completes one of its biggest structural shake-ups in recent years, City A.M. has learned.
The telecoms giant will start a consultation period in January to determine how many positions will go.
The firm will merge its customer sales and customer services departments into one operation, with at least 10 senior managers changing their roles.
Two senior managers will leave as part of the “streamlining” operation, with finance officer Ramon Ros returning to parent company Telefonica in Madrid and customer service director Cheryl Black retiring.
In addition, Steve Shurrock will begin as chief executive of the firm’s Ireland division.
A spokesman told City A.M.: “The main driver for the changes is that we are no longer just a mobile phones company. We are a multi channel, multi product firm, offering services including broadband, media and entertainment.
“The management structure in place is no longer suitable. We need to align ourselves with the needs of our customers.”
“There will be further organisational changes as we work through the process. We don’t expect radical job losses.”
The firm says it will try to protect consumer facing roles and says it will increase the number of in-store technical gurus from 150 to 400 – around one for each of its UK stores.
O2 is now the second largest mobile network in the UK after the merger between rivals T-Mobile and Orange.