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Spark NZ’s ‘turnaround’ and transformation continues

Spark NZ’s ‘turnaround’ and transformation continues

“We have now stabilised and reset the business to reflect the fast-changing and increasingly digital world in which we live.”

Mark Verbiest, chairman and managing director Simon Moutter, managing director, at the NZX building on the first day of trading as Spark New Zealand.
Mark Verbiest, chairman and managing director Simon Moutter, managing director, at the NZX building on the first day of trading as Spark New Zealand.
Spark New Zealand Chairman Mark Verbiest says the results for the financial year ended 30 June 2015 confirm the company is on track to deliver its “turnaround story”.

“A clear strategy with solid execution and a greater focus on customers has seen Spark New Zealand continue to gain customer numbers and return to sustainable EBITDA and free cash flow growth,” says Verbiest, in a statement.

“We are generating positive market momentum, especially in mobile, despite a highly competitive market. We have strengthened our portfolio of digital services and related capabilities, reshaped our IT systems around our customers, invested in network leadership, and successfully focused on costs and capital management.

“The bold decision to rebrand as Spark New Zealand continues to be vindicated with the core Spark brands performing well, appealing to a broader customer base and registering big improvements in brand preference measures.”

The bold decision to rebrand as Spark New Zealand continues to be vindicated with the core Spark brands performing well.

Chairman Mark Verbiest

Spark New Zealand’s net earnings after tax from continuing operations for FY15 were $375 million, up 16.1 per cent. Net earnings including discontinued operations were down 18.5 per cent compared to FY14, noting that financial year result included a gain on the sale of AAPT.

Mobile connections continued to grow, up 172,000 in the 12 months to 30 June 2015.

“We have closed the connection number gap on our largest competitor, Vodafone, to just over 150,000, having been around 600,000 behind them just three years ago.”

Read more: Preparing for the digital economy? Think bi-modal, says Gartner

Related: The five steps to successful digital transformation: Digital Darwinism is unkind to those who wait, says Ray Wang of Constellation Research.

Transformation targets

Managing director Simon Moutter says the first phase of the Spark New Zealand strategy that started in 2013 is now complete.

Read more: Brace for industry convergence and digital transformation: Frost & Sullivan

Spark New Zealand is in the best shape it’s been in for many years.

Managing director Simon Moutter

“We have now stabilised and reset the business to reflect the fast-changing and increasingly digital world in which Spark New Zealand and our customers live,” reports Moutter.

“During that time we have reduced prices, cut costs, simplified products, overhauled IT platforms, rebuilt networks, established a new fast and competitive organisational culture and started winning in the market. We’ve also sold businesses that were no longer going to be part of Spark New Zealand’s future, and invested in the new core Spark brands, together with brands and new businesses like Skinny, Bigpipe, Revera, Qrious, Lightbox and Morepork.”

“The extent of the change the organisation has experienced over the last two years is profound,” he states. “Customers are sensing the shift and responding positively with improved brand metrics and reputation measures across key customer segments.”

He says investment in digital service growth options continues. He reports that Lightbox has surpassed its first subscriber target, Qrious gained a firm position in the emerging data analytics market, Cloud IT is growing strongly and Morepork Smart Living has beta-launched.

“Our end-to-end cloud computing capabilities have continued to expand with both Revera and Appserv exceeding performance expectations and attracting a significant number of new business customers.”

“All up, Spark New Zealand is in the best shape it’s been in for many years,” he says.

“We’re now shifting to the next phase of our strategy with even greater emphasis on digital self-service capability and leveraging our outstanding networks to create truly great customer experiences, and in turn generate sustainable margin and revenue growth.

He says this was one of the key drivers behind their Digital First Programme.

“Digital First is the next step in transforming Spark New Zealand into a smarter, more agile, more efficient company, with great digital customer experiences at its heart.”

Read more: Collaboration now tops list of cloud computing drivers

Related: Unfazed by rapid change

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Tags cloud computingdisruptionSimon MoutterSpark New ZealandMark Verbiest

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