Vodafone NZ announces 200 job losses and 150 new roles amid businesses restructure

COVID-19 accelerated their digital transformation

Vodafone NZ announces 200 job losses and 150 new roles amid businesses restructure

Vodafone NZ has announced a widespread restructure of the business which will see 200 job losses and the creation of 150 new roles.

The company says its planned long-term restructure has been accelerated by COVID-19, with faster action required over the next 12 – 24 months to react to changing customer needs and market pressure.

Around 200 current roles are expected to be lost, with limited opportunities for redeployment. The company expects to add around 150 roles linked to digital transformation and improving customer experience.

Vodafone plans to invest $110m in improving sales and customer experience, with the creation of 100 additional on-shore customer-facing jobs. While $115 is being plugged into its digital programme.

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“Newly created roles will be all about delivering better customer experiences, better digital platforms & products, better value in market, and better network performance,” Vodafone said in a statement provided to HRD.

“Roles that are proposed to be disestablished are largely in back-office or management roles, or in areas where there is going to be some duplication of function.

“The strategy acceleration also means changes and consolidation within the Executive and Senior Leadership teams, to reflect the reshaping of the business.”

Vodafone CEO Jason Paris has said the goal moving forward is to make the company’s customer service is a point of difference against competitors.

It is also investing over $100m in expanding mobile and internet coverage, bringing 5G to more cities and improving the network in regional New Zealand.

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“Change is not new to our business – the Vodafone of today is very different to the Vodafone of five years ago – but we know changes can be hard,” he said.

“These changes will unfortunately impact some of our people, their families and their friends, so we will move as quickly as we can to give our people clarity, and enable our teams to keep delivering amazing digital services and connectivity for our customers.”