News
Management changes at Virgin Mobile
13/06/2007
One year into Virgin Mobile’s integration with Virgin Media, Joe Steel, Virgin Mobile’s deputy managing director and commercial director, has decided to leave the company in July. Joe, who served as commercial director prior to the acquisition of the business, has played a critical role in driving Virgin Mobile’s strategic development and commercial performance as part of Virgin Media.
In addition, Alan Gow, managing director of Virgin Mobile, has indicated that he intends to step down from his current role. Alan was previously chief financial officer at Virgin Mobile prior to its acquisition, when he became managing director. Having successfully guided the company through the first year of its integration, Alan will step down later in the year, once a successor is in place and an orderly transition is ensured. The recruitment process for Alan’s successor at Virgin Mobile is well advanced.
Alan and Joe were both co-founders of Virgin Mobile in 1999 and have been responsible for steering the company’s development before and during the launch of Virgin Media.
The changes reflect the ongoing integration between Virgin Media’s cable operation and Virgin Mobile, particularly in distribution and IT. However, Virgin Mobile will continue to exist as a brand and business unit in its own right.
Neil Berkett, chief operating officer of Virgin Media, said: “These roles have evolved as we continue to integrate relevant parts of our business and strengthen our position as the UK’s number one entertainment and communications company.
“Alan and Joe have both done a fantastic job and, until the role of managing director of Virgin Mobile is filled, Alan will stay with us to ensure a smooth transition.”
Alan said: “The past year has seen Virgin Mobile become part of the largest Virgin company in the world and we continue to maintain our reputation as the leader in customer satisfaction. I am tremendously proud of what Virgin Mobile has achieved and stands for and I wish my colleagues every success in this next exciting stage of the company’s evolution.
“While announcing my decision now, I will be giving my full support to finding the right person to take over. Both Joe and I are looking forward to some time with our families before taking up new challenges.”
Joe added: “Virgin Mobile has a unique track record and culture. It’s been a real pleasure to have worked with so many talented people to create and build the business through its many stages of growth. It has been a fantastic experience with a very special team and I wish my colleagues every success in the years ahead.”
Media contacts
Virgin Media: M Communications, Nick Fox or Lisa Gordon on 020 7153 1540 /1548
Virgin Mobile: 0845 600 6272 or press.office@virginmobile.com
Jo Baker: 07941 233300 or jo.baker@virginmobile.com
Simon Dornan: 07847 279666 or simon.dornan@virginmobile.com
About Virgin Mobile
Virgin Mobile is the UK’s largest mobile virtual network operator and uses T-Mobile's network. Since its launch in November 1999, Virgin Mobile has attracted more than 4 million customers.
Virgin Mobile is part of Virgin Media. The group is the first to be able to offer ‘quadruple play’ to customers: mobile and fixed line telephony, broadband internet and television.
In the UK, Virgin Mobile phones are available direct on 0845 6000 600; on the web at www.virginmobile.co.uk or on the high street at approximately 5,000 outlets including Virgin Mobile Stores and those within Virgin Megastores, The Carphone Warehouse, Phones 4 U, Currys, Currys.digital, Comet, Tesco, Asda, John Lewis, Argos, Woolworths, web retailers Dial-a-phone plus hundreds of independent mobile phone dealers and available via Littlewoods Shop Direct Home Shopping, Grattan and Empire home shopping channels.
Virgin Mobile employs approximately 1,700 staff at three sites, Trowbridge, London and Daventry, and has an outsourced customer service centre operated by approximately 200 staff in Middlesbrough.
Virgin Mobile was voted 22nd in the Best Workplaces in the UK Financial Times survey for 2006 and is once again in the top 50 in 2007. Virgin Mobile was honoured at Management Today’s Most Admired Companies Awards 2006, being voted the best company for the Ability to Attract, Develop and Retain Top Talent.
Virgin Mobile ranked highest in the J.D. Power and Associates customer satisfaction survey in both pre-pay and contract, outranking the consumer satisfaction scores of every other mobile operator in 2007.
About Alan Gow (51)
Alan became Managing Director in July 2006, following his years as CFO of Virgin Mobile, which he joined in February 1999 from One2One/T-Mobile. He had joined One2One in 1995 as Head of Business Planning, where he was instrumental in the strategic review and refinancing of the company. Subsequently, Alan was involved in the pioneering launch of the pre-pay billing model in the UK, and was part of the team that put together the original Virgin T-Mobile joint venture. Since joining Virgin Mobile as a founding director, Alan has steered the company through a series of funding rounds, and a successful IPO in 2004, concluding with the ntl/Telewest transaction in 2006. Alan previously held senior planning and financial roles with Hilton International, Perrier, and Scottish & Newcastle plc. He holds an MBA with distinction from Manchester Business School and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
About Joe Steel (40)
Joe joined Virgin Mobile in February 1999 as Marketing Director and was responsible for the Virgin Mobile proposition to customers. In 2003, Joe was appointed Commercial Director to oversee the company’s strategic and commercial development. In July 2006, Joe was appointed Deputy Managing Director in addition to his role as Commercial Director. Prior to joining Virgin Mobile, Joe held positions as Head of Business Development and Head of Mass Marketing for BT Cellnet. During this time he was responsible for managing all aspects of BT Cellnet’s proposition in the mass market and for several strategic partnerships, most notably with Barclaycard and Midland Bank. Before joining BT Cellnet, he spent five years at Arthur D. Little where he specialised in consulting in the telecommunications and media sectors and worked with clients including Microtel (Orange), BSkyB and Cellnet. Joe holds a Masters Degree in engineering from Imperial College London. He trained with Unilever plc.
