Batelco’s new Chief Executive, Peter Kaliaropoulos, held a series of meetings with all of the company’s management and employees to brief them on Batelco’s strategy for the second half of the year and longer-term plans for the future.
During the presentations, Peter covered the findings from his first two months of inductions and briefings together with his vision for the direction that Batelco should take in light of changing market conditions and technology.
“Our success long term will only be determined by how well we keep earning the trust of our customers, day after day,” said Peter. “We must all understand that our market leadership in Bahrain is not to be taken for granted and we cannot rest on our laurels.”
“Our operating environment is fundamentally changing. Additional competitors are entering a relatively small market; significant regulatory reform progresses including carrier pre-select and local access determinations are being made; and disruptive new technologies – such as Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) - are being introduced. These forces of change may have a significant adverse impact on Batelco,” said Peter. “We have to be adaptable and continually transform our business to be more relevant to our customers, employees and shareholders and – ultimately – to survive.”
The employee briefings focused on specific strategies detailing how Batelco will move forward during the coming weeks and months, and also on the general culture of the company.
“We need to continually focus on delivering a better ‘customer experience’,” explained Peter. “In order to retain our market leadership, we must develop an ‘obsession’ for listening, delivering and measuring what really matters to our customers. We have to work to create an even more customer focused action-oriented company where our employees can make a difference for the customer and be supported by our Business leaders.”
Despite the changing market, the Chief Executive was upbeat about the future. “Batelco’s growth strategy will focus on improving customers experience, delivering growth in Bahrain from mobile and broadband services, accelerating growth overseas, investing in ICT services, continually improving our cost structure and optimizing performance through personal leadership at all levels in the company.”
The Chief Executive also commented on feedback from customers and employees. “During recent weeks, I have met with many customers and employees across all divisions in Batelco. I have discovered that – whilst our customers are demanding, sophisticated and savvy, and they seek improvements in the affordability, reliability and innovation that Batelco has to offer – their message is clear: they do want Bahrain’s national telecommunications company to succeed in the very competitive Bahrain market.
“Similarly, I have learned that our employees are proud, passionate and enthusiastic. By focusing such energy on improving our customers’ experience, Batelco will continue to lead the market and the Middle East and be a company in which all Bahrainis can take great pride!”
In total, 10 briefing sessions were held at Batelco Staff Center in Hamala. All Batelco employees were requested to attend and turnout was extremely high.
