HALIFAX – Bell Aliant will cut 500 management positions, or 5% of its overall workforce, this year in an effort to “increase competitiveness,” the company announced today.
In announcing a plan it says is designed to improve customer service and deliver stronger investor results, Aliant said the job cuts would allow for “a new, more nimble and efficient organizational structure”.
"One of my priorities is to ensure that the organization is positioned for continued success," said president and CEO Karen Sheriff in a statement. “Executive positions have been reduced by one third since I joined Bell Aliant last summer. The leaner management structure will bring all employees closer to customers, allow for faster decision making and reduce costs. Changes like this are never easy but are necessary for Bell Aliant to continue to be successful in meeting the needs of our customers and investors."
Sherriff’s own executive team dropped four members from 11 to 7. The current senior executive is as follows:
– Mary-Ann Bell is senior vice-president for Quebec and Ontario;
– Fred Crooks is executive vice-president, corporate services and CLO throughout the Central and Atlantic regions;
– Chuck Hartlen is senior vice-president, customer experience and has responsibility for field services, network engineering, operations and is CIO;
– Glen LeBlanc is executive vice-president and CFO;
– Rod MacGregor is vice-president, corporate development and strategy;
– David Rathbun is president of xwave, Aliant’s information technology division, and executive vice-president of Bell Aliant; and
– Heather Tulk is senior vice-president, customer solutions.
The company chose not to replace former Quebec regional president Roch Dube, former COO Frank Fagan and SVP Mahes Wickramasinghe, all of whom left the company in 2008. Mark Hanlon, former head of Ontario, does not report to Sheriff and is working in a transitional role, an Aliant spokesperson told Cartt.ca.
