Vodafone admits Vizzavi brand to go in restructure

Ravi Chandiramani,

October 02, 2002

How long?

1 minute

Vodafone admits Vizzavi brand to go in restructure

LONDON - Vodafone has finally admitted it is to kill off the Vizzavi brand, its multi-access portal, as first predicted in Marketing in April.

The mobile giant will fold the Vizzavi business into its global products and services division across seven Vizzavi subsidiaries from this week.

A spokesman said this will trigger 90 job cuts by means of a consultation process.

In May, Julian Horn Smith, chief operating officer at Vodafone, insisted: "Suggestions that Vizzavi will be dropped or that Vizzavi will become part of Vodafone's global products and services division are entirely wrong."

Vizzavi chief executive Guy Lawrence will become chief executive of global content services, reporting to Thomas Geitner, chief executive of the global products and services division. The position of Vizzavi's head of marketing service Paul Bernstein remains unclear.

The Vizzavi brand shot to prominence through its sponsorship of ITV's smash hit show 'Pop Idol'.

If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .

Topics

Marketing