Virgin Mobile CEO: Why I left

[rpm]

http://www.mybroadband.co.za/nephp/?m=show&id=4970

 

[feo]

Sacranie's replacement, current vice president of marketing for Virgin Mobile in the USA, Peter Boyd, takes over from the beginning of next month.

Ah fresh from the US...sounds good

 

[kilo39]

There was also a style difference in managing people in the UK compared to managing people in South Africa, Sacranie said.

Um, UK people can take orders?

Ah, uk people have an interest in getting stuff done?

Ah, uk don't need micro-management?

None of the above?

Wot?

Please tell us.

 

[ic]

That the company - a service provider - was perceived as the fourth mobile operator in the market was testament to this marketing success, he said.

I'm sure there are many people that do have that perception, but I'm wondering how many forumites believe that VM is SA's 4th cellular network operator when most of us know that VM piggy-backs off of CellC's network...?

He says he'll remain in South Africa and sees an array of opportunities requiring his particular skills set.

I know that Alec Irwin wants to start up a certain company called InfraCo, and some of InfraCo's employees will probably be appointed by the Grim Poisonous Ivyness Creeper - these people could certainly do with a good Sacranie-kick up their rear ends...

 

[Skeptik]

Your average South African worker is lazy, and always has been. Let's face it.

He bit off more than he could chew and mucked it up. He thought conditions were the same as the UK, but clearly they are not.

 

[Boodles]

Your average South African worker is lazy, and always has been. Let's face it.

He bit off more than he could chew and mucked it up. He thought conditions were the same as the UK, but clearly they are not.

South africans that work/live overseas are percieved as hard workers. Conditions here certaintly much different though.

 

[Skeptik]

South africans that work/live overseas are percieved as hard workers. Conditions here certaintly much different though.

I've also heard that. Maybe it has to do with the R/£ exchange rate and their eagerness to earn. Besides I said "worker". It's a different demographic.

 

[sabagamma]

Your average South African worker is lazy, and always has been. Let's face it.

I completely disagree with the statement that South Africans are lazy, most white collar workers in SA are hard workers. Not the best in the world (that's the Indians esp in IT) but hard workers generally. When it comes to blue collar workers, then yes we suck. Then again so does the UK and the US and most of continental Europe although they do not suck as much as we do. I blame our problems on bad management especially at a government level.

Back to Mr Virgin, Saccarine or whatever his name is, Sacs it looks like you are trying to justify yourself here. Blaming culture, saying that you push hard just does not cut any ice. There are cultural differences the work over, the US, UK, France, Australia and others each work differently, were you under the impression that world was one big London?

Lots of people push hard, they just do not annoy and demoralise everyone around them. They have people management skills, which if you had any, you might still have a job.

The second point in highlighting how special Virgin Mobile is, is really bottom of the barrel. All you have is a popular brand name (thats Bransons work BTW) and a terrible network infrastructure - C for yourself in the MyAdsl forums. You have not met any of your subscriber targets, thats why you will not officially release figures to the press, otherwise you would be laughed out of the country. Saying that you are a "company builder" is marketing yourself for your a new job, in my line of work my results speak for themselves. If you built houses the way you build companies, you would not get any work - even in Alex.

Now please leave our beloved country ASAP.

 

[Tns]

Your average South African worker is lazy, and always has been. Let's face it.

He bit off more than he could chew and mucked it up. He thought conditions were the same as the UK, but clearly they are not.

Now you generalising way too much.So workas are lazy yes,just depends i guess.

 

[Tanarri]

Does Virgin have plans to roll out their own network in the future?