Vodafone Malta has announced changes to its organisational structure in order to provide additional focus on the various sections of the business and better support its business strategy in ever-changing market conditions. They also bring Malta in line with the Vodafone global organisation.
Vodafone’s Marketing and Commercial Departments have now been restructured into three sections: the Enterprise and Wholesale Unit, the Consumer Business Unit and the Commercial Operations Unit. All three are represented on the company’s Executive Committee by their respective heads.
Joseph Cuschieri has recently relinquished his position of Chief Commercial Officer to pursue his career by setting up his own advisory services practice, something he has been planning for some time. To this effect, the Enterprise and Wholesale Business Unit will temporarily be headed by Mr Cuschieri, who has held the position of Chief Commercial Officer since October 2007 having previously been Vodafone’s Head of Public Policy and Affairs. Mr Cuschieri will be working full time with Vodafone Malta until May.
He said: “I am delighted and very excited that, after seven years of service with a global company like Vodafone, I am moving on to set up my own business. Looking back at the last seven years, I feel proud to have been an agent of change and a key contributor to Vodafone’s success and market leadership. I am also pleased that, through my career move, I have created space for local talent to grow and take over senior roles within the company”.
Mr Cuschieri’s affiliation with Vodafone is not likely to end next May. Apart from being engaged with Vodafone in an advisory role immediately after 31 May, he has also been appointed Director on the Board of Arabia Mobile Services which is an mobile virtual network operator operating in Milan. The company is owned by Vodafone Egypt and provides mobile telephony services to the Egyptian community in Italy.
The Consumer Business Unit will be headed by Sandro Pisani, who has returned to Vodafone Malta after an 18-month stint with Vodafone Egypt where he sat on the Executive Committee as Strategy Director. During this time, Mr. Pisani was also CEO and director of Arabia Mobile Services. Before moving to Egypt, he had been with Vodafone Malta for 10 years and occupied a variety of roles including Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Technology.
“After spending time abroad, I am really glad to be back with Vodafone Malta. Every time I move abroad for work, I always come back refreshed and looking forward to a new challenge, and this time around is no different. Leading this unit means that I will be able to focus more on our consumers and provide them with offers and services that truly meet their needs,” said Mr Pisani.
Michael Coney has been promoted from the position of Customer Operations Manager to Head of Commercial Operations Unit. Mr Coney has a corporate finance background and has been working with Vodafone Malta for the past eight years, two of which were spent in the UK as Commercial Marketing Manager with Vodafone Group. Mr Coney, who will now form part of the company’s executive committee, said: “I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to head such an important function in our organisation. The function’s role is to ensure that the customer has the best possible experience in all dealings with Vodafone. This restructuring is an affirmation that our customers are at the heart of all our activities”.
Vodafone Malta CEO Balesh Sharma described these changes as very exciting opportunities for a good number of Vodafone’s staff. “These people are all role models who have concentrated heavily on their career development,” he said. “Over the years they have been very open to the many changes and opportunities that Vodafone provides to increase their knowledge and experience. It is truly my pleasure to see how people can move from one company to another within Vodafone and how ultimately local talent is always appreciated and valued.”