“Business as usual” for EE after its B2B arm is folded into newly created BT Business and Public Sector division as part of restructure
BT has reaffirmed its commitment to the B2B channel following the completion of its £12.5 billion takeover of EE at the end of January.
Dealers had expressed concerns over the future of the channel after BT snapped up the UK’s biggest mobile operator, but a spokesperson for the operator told Mobile News it remains “business as usual” for EE.
“Nothing changes with our channel strategy and EE remains committed to the B2B channel,” the EE spokesperson explained.
Great Relationships
“Our partners will retain the same great relationships that they have with EE Business today as part of the new BT Business and Public Sector division, and we will continue to sell EE products through the channel.”
The reassurances came after BT announced a major corporate structure as it looks to integrate EE into its wider business.
The restructure will see the creation of six new divisions within BT: Consumer, EE, Business and Public Sector, Global Services, Wholesale and Ventures, and Openreach. The changes are set to come into force on April 1.
The EE brand will be retained, but the mobile sector will largely focus on the consumer market. It will continue to offer consumers mobile services, broadband and EE TV, and will be led by former chief commercial officer Marc Allera, who is now EE’s CEO.
EE’s B2B arm will become part of BT Business and Public Sector division, which BT estimates is worth around £5 billion in combined revenues.
Mobile News understands that EE Business will continue to operate independently. This means EE account managers will continue to deal directly with dealer partners, while there will be no change to the products on offer, with BT account managers also handling BT business customers.
According to BT, the lucrative public services contract, won by the operator at the end of last year, will also be controlled by the EE brand.
Multi-brand strategy
Group chief executive Gavin Patterson said: “We will operate a multi-brand strategy with UK customers being able to choose a mix of BT, EE or Plusnet services, depending on which suit them best. The acquisition enables us to offer great value bundles of services and customers are set to be the winners as we compete for their business.”
Meanwhile EE has confirmed former CEO Olaf Swantee will remain with the company in an unspecified role to help with the transition to BT.Further details on expected consolidation are not yet known.
