Taylor rejoins Nashua Mobile as CEO

TELECOMS

Mark Taylor has re-joined Nashua Mobile as its CEO with effect from 1 October. Taylor – a telecommunications veteran with nearly three decades of experience – will be focusing on improved customer service.

Taylor returns to Nashua Mobile from Vodacom, where he spent time as the Managing Executive responsible for Supply Chain at Vodacare, Online, as well as set up the financial services area at Vodacom. Prior to that, he had served as Nashua Mobile’s managing director for five years. Taylor first joined Nashua Mobile in 1999 as a director responsible for IT and operations after being responsible for the merger between Plessey and Nedtel.

In 2001, Nedtel and Nashua merged to form Nashua Mobile, and in 2003 Taylor took the reins at  the company. Before joining Nashua Mobile, Taylor spent 16 years in Nedbank’s IT department in various roles, including general manager of systems integration.  

Says Taylor: “I am looking forward to coming home to Nashua Mobile. My goal will be to strengthen the company’s position as the country’s leading telecommunications service provider with the most diverse and robust selection of products and services as a partner of leading networks such as Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and 8ta.”

“An immediate priority will be ensuring the organisation is even more customer focused than before. With competition heating up in the sector, average revenue per user falling, and few opportunities to differentiate on product or price, customer service has emerged as the most important competitive weapon in the telecommunications industry. The telecommunications industry has the potential to drive GDP growth in South Africa, but only if companies such as Nashua Mobile work to drive service and competition in the market.”

To this end, Nashua Mobile will be dividing the business into two main areas: Consumer - focussed on franchise retail and direct distribution, andEnterprise - built on the expertise of relationship managers who can craft business solutions for organisations of all sizes. Nashua Mobile has a strong heritage in both these markets, but wants to refine its strengths in each giving them the focus they need to excel. Nashua Mobile will work a lot closer with other Nashua groups and leverage off existing accounts to offer a one-stop shop for service and choice.

Nashua Mobile will also be investing in its information technology capabilities to ensure that it can respond to nearly any customer query within 24 hours, he adds.  “We will be using technology to deliver the best possible customer experience, giving customers consistent great service however they can choose which channel to interact with us; from walk-in retail or the call centre, through to the Website or smartphone apps,” Taylor says. He adds, “We believe the future is in digital platforms”.

“IT investments are central to our drive towards being responsive to and available for our customers when they need us. We will offer the convenience to our customers, giving them the ability to interact with us how and when they choose to,” says Taylor.

Taylor says that he is delighted to be returning to Nashua Mobile as its CEO. “I know and love this business, and see a great deal of potential just waiting to be tapped. I am looking forward to working with a strong team to take the business to new heights over the years to come,” concludes Taylor.