Spark announces leadership team changes in move to Agile

Spark New Zealand Limited
ARBN 050 611 277 Spark City, 167 Victoria Street West, Private Bag 92028, Auckland, New Zealand


MARKET RELEASE
12 March 2018

Spark announces leadership team changes as part of move to
Agile
Spark New Zealand has announced today upcoming changes to its leadership team
as the company works towards adopting an Agile way of working across the
organisation.
“In line with the timings indicated at last month’s interim results announcement we
continue to work towards adopting Agile ways of working across Spark, with this
announcement supporting our planned ‘at scale’ implementation in Q1 FY19,”
managing director Simon Moutter said.
“These changes do not alter existing FY18 guidance. However, as noted at last
month’s interim results announcement, we are considering accelerating our business
transformation to strengthen the FY19 result. No decision has yet been made, but if
the programme is accelerated, then FY18 guidance may reduce due to the
associated costs of change. We will update the market if appropriate.
“In an Agile Spark, we will move away from a traditional hierarchical organisational
structure based around large business units. The Agile model involves self-managing
teams, each with clear accountabilities, who collaborate quickly and effectively with
one another to deliver great products and services for our customers. In this model,
business leaders act as catalysts, showing direction and setting up the systems for
people to do their jobs effectively.
“This also means the role of the Spark leadership team must change. It’s no longer
about each team member being in charge of a particular business unit or support
function, and ‘representing’ that unit at the top table. Rather it’s about assembling
the right mix of skills, talent and experience to collectively make the big calls that
will underpin our ongoing success across the company.”
In the language of Agile people work together in multi-disciplined teams of up to 10,
known as squads. Spark is adopting an Agile way of working in its top leadership
team as well and to that end, and with effect from 1 July 2018, the Spark Leadership
Squad will consist of the following:
Managing Director Simon Moutter no change
Customer Director Jolie Hodson currently CEO Spark Digital
Finance Director (CFO) David Chalmers no change

Spark New Zealand Limited
ARBN 050 611 277 Spark City, 167 Victoria Street West, Private Bag 92028, Auckland, New Zealand


HR Director Joe McCollum no change
Marketing Director to be recruited
Product Director Claire Barber currently Chief Digital Officer, Platforms
Technology Director Mark Beder currently Chief Operating Officer, Connect
As their titles indicate, each leadership squad member will bring specific knowledge,
insights and perspectives to the top table.
As a result of these changes, Ed Hyde, currently CEO of Spark Ventures, is expected
to leave Spark by the end of June 2018.
“When we formed Spark Ventures as a business unit some five years ago, it was to
accelerate our rate of innovation within Spark, by creating a focal point for the
investment in and incubation of new digital services ventures. It was always our
desire that this culture of innovation could be “mainstreamed” over time into the
wider Spark,” Mr Moutter commented.
“Unfortunately, with Spark Ventures’ activities being integrated within the core of
our new Agile tribe structure, we’ve been unable to date to identify a role that is
significant and fulfilling enough for Ed - so unless things change he is expected to
leave us by the end of June. Ed has done a fantastic job with us over recent years,
especially as a driving force within Spark Ventures, which has been responsible for
the build, development and investment in 10 new digital services businesses
including Skinny, Lightbox, Qrious and our recent push into IoT.”
Grant McBeath, who took over as interim CEO of Spark’s Home, Mobile and Business
(HMB) unit from Jason Paris earlier this year, will continue to lead HMB until July,
when he will revert to his previous role guiding Spark’s consumer and SME sales and
service channels. “These customer-focused units are extremely important to Spark’s
future in an increasingly “omnichannel” environment where our physical and digital
channels complement each other to delight our customers with an effortless
experience,” said Mr Moutter.
Although Spark prefers to develop talent from within – as evidenced by numerous
senior internal appointments over recent years – Mr Moutter said the company was
committed to recruit externally when required, such as for the new marketing
director role.
Once Spark is operating under an Agile at scale model from Q1 FY19, the company
will no longer be organised in hierarchies via the main business units that exist today
(Home Mobile & Business, Digital, Ventures, Platforms, Connect). Spark intends to
provide investors with more information on the new operating mode in due course,
including any resulting changes to the structure of Spark’s external reporting.

Spark New Zealand Limited
ARBN 050 611 277 Spark City, 167 Victoria Street West, Private Bag 92028, Auckland, New Zealand


-ENDS-

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