Cable Forum - Simon Duffy steps into new role Executive Vice chairman

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Simon Duffy steps into new role Executive Vice chairman

Report in the FT that ntl CEO Simon Duffy is to step down to the role of executive vice-chairman today, and be replaced by Stephen Burch, head of Comcast's Atlantic division.

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/9c54469e-6d...0779e2340.html

Re: Simon Duffy steps down

And who says there is no good news in the world today.

Re: Simon Duffy steps down

CONFIRMED:

Quote:

New Chief Executive Officer appointed

Stephen Burch has been appointed ntl's President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director effective 16 January 2006, and will serve in those same capacities in the combined company, succeeding Simon Duffy, who will become Executive Vice Chairman for ntl (and the combined company).

Stephen has spent the past 17 years with Comcast Corporation in the United States, where he most recently served as President of Comcast's Atlantic Division and was a key player in Comcast's integration of AT&T Broadband.

As Executive Vice Chairman, Simon will focus on external management issues, including group strategy and business development, European and UK regulatory affairs, mergers and acquisitions, and other areas as part of the company's efforts to continue the development of its growth strategy, which has included the recent merger agreement with Telewest and the company's efforts to create the 'quadruple play' by potentially adding mobile service to the company's portfolio.

Jim Mooney, ntl's Chairman, commented, "Since joining the company in March 2003, Simon has helped lay the foundation that has enabled ntl to reach the next phase of the company's evolution. Against that backdrop, and recognising that the company's enhanced scale and presence now requires a greater focus on external management, Simon will concentrate on that area. We will look to Stephen to lead ntl through our merger with Telewest.

"Stephen brings a wealth of leadership and direction to our company in this pivotal time as we now begin in earnest to integrate Telewest to create the premier UK communications company. Stephen's recent experience in being a part of Comcast's integration of AT&T Broadband has served as the industry gold standard and we are excited that he will lead us through this historic period. Today's appointments will also ensure that we are more effectively positioned to compete in the ever-changing UK communications marketplace," he added.

Prior to being named ntl's Chief Executive Officer, Stephen spent his entire 26 year career in the cable sector, working for the past 17 years at Comcast Corporation. During his tenure at Comcast, Stephen has held positions ranging from general manager to his current position, President - Atlantic Division, which he has held for the past five years. He was instrumental in the integration of Comcast's acquisition of AT&T Broadband, where his Division integrated approximately 2 million subscribers within 18 months. Throughout his career he has also integrated over 2.5 million cable subscribers in 15 markets around the US. Stephen oversees 3.9 million subscribers and holds full responsibility for his Division's operations, including finance, customer service, human resources, marketing, legal, technical operations and engineering.

Re: Simon Duffy steps down

Quote:

Originally Posted by dezzo

And who says there is no good news in the world today.

I don't know if that's good news - isn't Simon Duffy the one who the Mods 'got in with' and, amongst other things, has been quite helpful with regards to Responsetek?

Re: Simon Duffy steps down

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Originally Posted by Nugget

I don't know if that's good news - isn't Simon Duffy the one who the Mods 'got in with' and, amongst other things, has been quite helpful with regards to Responsetek?

I always got the impression he was a bit of an ****. Possibly unfair but no-one I used to work with had any time for him at all.

Mind you that could be said for almost any large company boss. The people at the sharp end think they sit about thinking new and inventive ways to screw people over to get their big bonus for efficiency saving instead of doing any real work.

Re: Simon Duffy steps down

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nugget

I don't know if that's good news - isn't Simon Duffy the one who the Mods 'got in with' and, amongst other things, has been quite helpful with regards to Responsetek?

He has indeed been very helpful. :)

It's worth noting by the way that he is not leaving the company. The details of the announcement seem to suggest that they are creating a new role to allow him to carry on doing what he's good at (namely hauling the company into profitability and looking for new ways to grow the business) while handing the CEO job to a seasoned cableco exec who is likely to be better at leading the gritty business of merging NTL with Telewest.

By the way, day to day, we don't forward user issues to him, we have other contacts that were originally facilitated by him but whom we now deal with independently.

Re: Simon Duffy steps down

Not sure of what to think, I used to hate him but then got put straight that he is the one who allowed cableforum to have a contact. I think this is part of change of direction for ntl, ie. with the unmetered packages etc. Not sure if I am pleased with a comcast guy at the helm tho.

Re: Simon Duffy steps down

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Originally Posted by Chrysalis

How can you hate someone you've never met? Especially just for being the CEO of a company you don't like.

Hate Saddam Hussain, Robert Mugabe, that's for obvious reasons... but to hate a telecoms CEO? :erm:

Re: Simon Duffy steps down

OT but, I used that responsetek thing when it first appeared to let NTL know just how craply they treated me when I was a customer, 3 months later, after no further contact, I got an email asking to complete some survey on how great I thought the responsetek thing was ...

Re: Simon Duffy steps down

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Originally Posted by Bifta

As you rightly point out this has nothing to do with Simon Duffy. But also the responsetek tool, once it was first launched, some people who sent feedback did not all get replies back.

Getting back to the topic at hand - I think the thread title is somewhat confusing, Simon isn't stepping down but going into a new role.

Having met Simon Duffy - there is nothing I can fault the guy for, hes given this forum the avenues back into ntl, now more so than ever.

Re: Simon Duffy steps down

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Originally Posted by orangebird

and youve met these people? :rolleyes:

Re: Simon Duffy steps into new role Executive Vice chairman

I have had an email conversation with Peter Wilcock, and he has confirmed that the relationship will not alter with Simon's new position within the merged company.

To quote

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Wilcock

Simon has been a good champion but CF is now embedded within ntl so things will not change

The relationship is stong, and getting stronger, there are more things planned for the future, so watch this space.

Re: Simon Duffy steps down

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Originally Posted by Bifta

you were no longer a customer, why should they waste energy on you:rolleyes:

Re: Simon Duffy steps down

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Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

and youve met these people? :rolleyes:

OB Probably has.

Re: Simon Duffy steps down

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Originally Posted by Mick

Having met Simon Duffy - there is nothing I can fault the guy for, hes given this forum the avenues back into ntl, now more so than ever.

I've never met the guy and I don't know what he was tasked by his boad with achieving, but one thing he has not achieved is improving the customer experience, which, in my experience, I would say is now worse than ever.

But then he was probably tasked with reducing the ever present threat of bankruptcy, which he does appear to have done - but at the expense of good service and innovative products.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

you were no longer a customer, why should they waste energy on you:rolleyes:

Well you would hope that after a customer leaves ntl and the dust has settled the ex-customer might one day go back to them. But when people go out of there way to make things unpleasant for the leaver, it just makes sure they won't go back.

The very thing happened to me. I've never been a big fan of ntl, but have tollerated them for a long time on the basis that if I don't have to call them (as in have to, matter of huge importance) then I'm better off not doing - as every call turns into a farce. As most of the time (latterly) things worked OK, I put up with them.

But when leaving, they made is incredibly difficult at every stage, I have (no joke) spent eight hours on the phone to them during November trying to sort their messes from three different departments out and as a final insult a get to speak to single most rude person on the planet who decides it's more fun to personally insult (ex)customers rather than sort her own deprtment's huge balls-up out. She has made sure that I will never EVER be an ntl customer again. And she is being dealt with.

Re: Simon Duffy steps down

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Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

and youve met these people? :rolleyes:

No, and you clearly didn't grasp my last post at all. Hussain and Mugabe are not very nice people for well known reasons..... Simon Duffy took over the running of a very poor ship, and has turned it back round to where it should be going (not that it's there yet, but it's better).

Is that better? Or did you still not get what I was saying? Or maybe you did, but can't help trolling anyway? :rolleyes:

Re: Simon Duffy steps into new role Executive Vice chairman

Simon Duffy took over the running of a very poor ship that made no money and has left it as a very poor ship with some money. As I said in my post, that may very well have been his sole task from the board, in which case, well done to him.

But as he has little or no experience in merging a company, it is correct that he should side-step to allow for someone with experience of doing this to take his place for the next couple of years.