The Stack’s latest job of the week is at O2 owner Telefónica, which is looking for a Head of Transformation to “shape and mobilise” a B2B technology transformation programme and own it across “all the technology directorates” (including “CIO, CTO, CDO, NetEx” – a data transport protocol) for O2.
The advert comes in the wake of a £31 billion tie-up between Virgin Media and O2 was given the green light by regulators this year, resulting in the formal launch in June 2021 of what is now one of the UK’s largest businesses – it has promised “seamless broadband, entertainment and mobile services all in one place.”
“The role is responsible for all the technology “elements of B2B Transformation programmes that the B2B IT department will deliver in conjunction with the business and wholesale directorate”, Telefónica said December 13, adding “while specialised resources may sit in [various directorates] this is a senior role that will have end to end accountability for the technology elements of the B2B transformation programmes.”
The Head of Transformation will report to O2's B2B CIO, but “has a dotted line to the Director of Strategy, Marketing & Transformation, whose team this role will be a virtual member of, as a technology partner”.
The successful candidate will “… [also] investigate, propose and kick-off transformation programmes or transformative elements enabled from technology options (e.g. novel technology, repurposed technical capabilities) that may be exploited for… B2B customers,” the job advert says – an intriguingly blue skies role.
See also: For telcos, going cloud-native can be liberating
O2 has launched a range of innovations this year, including a partnership with Microsoft that saw it deploy on premise Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) capabilities within a Private 5G Network, with the computing service delivered via Microsoft Azure Private Edge Zones. (This falled the launch in February 2021 of another Private 5G Network initiative with Leonardo, a aerospace and defence company, that included the test of ‘future factory’ manufacturing capabilities and providing high speed and secure information services). Other technology-led product launches include its "spatial insights service", illustrated at top, which uses AI and real-time video analytics to measure customer numbers, dwell times, queue lengths and product engagement.
Other responsibilities for the O2 Hhad of Transformation will include:
- Working with the Business Strategy, Marketing and Transformation leadership team to “shape and mobilise the B2B transformation programmes, so that their scope, goals, structure and governance is clear and optimised for the programme.”
- Owning programme mobilisation across all the technology directorates and owning “the resolution of critical success points for the successful start of the programme (e.g. resourcing, governance). Decide the correct delivery mechanism (e.g. agile, waterfall) and resourcing (e.g. FTEs, partners) for the programme. Ensure that success criteria, goals and KPIs are defined at the conception of the programme.”
Like many telcos, O2 is engaged in a major modernisation programme. It described its “main focus” in its last annual report as being a project to “simplify and modernise our IT systems, applications, platforms and execute technology strategies which are aligned to our business strategy to help drive customer and stakeholder values… to reduce risk, be more cost effective and enable our people and customers to succeed.”
The plans detailed in the report include “reduce interfaces by up to 50% and moving our Consumer and small office/home office (SOHO) customers onto a single platform” as part of its “Accelerate O2” project. O2 has been shifting around its team as it embarks on further digital transformation efforts, this week hiring Zoran Spasojevic as Head of Architecture, Budget, and Governance and promoting experienced finance professional Anjili Mehta to Head of Programme Delivery – Accelerate as of December 2021.
Apply for the O2 Head of Transformation role here. Applications close January 5, 2022.
