They are the company that traditionally told us it’s good to talk, and the UK’s biggest telecommunications provider has proved that it can take its own advice with the arrival of a team of Chief Information Officers. In a move designed to improve communication with its enterprise customers, the team’s focus will be on providing “the voice of the customer.”
As the interface between numerous businesses in the north east and their communications provider, The Network Union welcomed the innovation, which it hopes will lead to a stronger understanding of the communication issues that really matter to the local business community in these challenging economic times.
Six regional CIOs
The team will be headed up by Philip Baulch, BT’s CIO for its Major Corporate and Public Sector division, and will consist of six newly appointed officers, each responsible for a different geographical region. In addition to the north of England, there will be officers covering each of Scotland, Wales and South West England, Northern Ireland, London South East England and finally, the Midlands.
The CIO team will also be supported by a number of BT’s top industry leads, including Tom Baker, the CIO for Major Business, Paul Ryder, CIO for Central Government, Phil Brunkard, the CIO Regional and Gary Moore, CIO of Defence. David Petty, the Chief Operating Officer and Ian Simpson, the Chief Technical Officer, will also be on hand to provide support when needed.
Strengthening partnerships
Baulch anticipates that the teams will play an important role in strengthening BT’s position as a trusted partner and technological adviser for local industry. He said: “With the decentralisation of IT spending and ownership, the new roles will focus on specific public sector verticals, as well as major corporate customers,” and told reporters that the new approach has already garnered positive feedback from the business community.
Changing times
Businesses in the north east are facing one of the most dramatic periods in history, with a huge increase in new business startups, as well as a number of traditional businesses that have continued to thrive through changing times.
BT has seen how these changes have impacted local industries, and has transformed its own structure to meet evolving business needs head on.