Telefónica UK (O2) appoints two new members to its Executive Committee signposting ambition to innovate

• Jo Bertram, former Uber Regional General Manager for Northern Europe, appointed as Telefónica UK Chief Digital and Strategy Officer
• Gareth Turpin, former O2 Director of Customer Service, appointed as Telefónica UK Sales Director
• Both will assume their roles in April, reporting directly to CEO, Mark Evans

O2 today announces it has appointed two new members to its Executive Committee, signposting its ambitions to transcend the sector by innovating for the customer. Jo Bertram, former Uber Regional General Manager for Northern Europe, and Gareth Turpin, former O2 Director of Customer Service, have been appointed as Telefónica UK’s Chief Digital and Strategy Officer and Sales Director respectively. Both will assume their roles in April and report directly to Mark Evans, Telefónica UK CEO.

Telefónica UK’s business strategy is Customer-Led, Mobile-First. In a speech made earlier this month at the Media and Telecoms 2018 & Beyond conference hosted by Enders, Mark Evans, Telefónica CEO, addressed delegates by saying: “Our intention is to exploit the potential that mobile has to offer, redefining yet more ways in which people and businesses can take advantage of the mobile-powered world.” The two new Executive Committee members, with their experience, will strengthen Telefónica UK’s route to achieving this goal.

Mark Evans, Telefónica UK’s Chief Executive Officer said of the appointments, “I am excited to be able to announce that Jo Bertram will be joining the team and bringing with her a wealth of innovative and customer centric experience. Alongside her, Gareth Turpin will assume the role of Sales Director following a long and successful tenure in the business. Both appointments will strengthen the team as a whole, bringing new perspectives from inside and out. I am confident that our 50:50 gender split Executive Committee has the talent and capability to take Telefónica UK to the next level.”

Jo Bertram joins Telefónica UK with an expansive background in management consultancy and leading innovative digital business models. With an MBA from INSEAD, Jo spent eight years of her career consulting both for Accenture in London and Melbourne and McKinsey in Geneva and Johannesburg. Latterly, Jo spent four years as Regional General Manager for Northern Europe at Uber – growing a team of three to over 300 across 10 countries, overseeing the expansion across the UK, and the launch of Ireland, Denmark, Finland and Norway.

Jo is an Executive in Residence for EQT Ventures, where she supports ambitious founders on their journeys to global success. Her new appointment with Telefónica, which commences on 9^th April, builds on her previous experience of tech, strategy and innovative business models.

Jo said of her appointment, “I am thrilled to be joining Telefónica UK at this exciting time of unprecedented change, where new technologies have the ability to shape the industry, and where digital will be critical to future success. O2 has a long heritage in putting the customer first and I am honoured to be joining such an impressive, passionate and collaborative team. In addition to my new appointment with Telefónica, I will be continuing in an advisory support role for EQT Ventures and its portfolio companies on the growth stage of their journeys.”

Gareth Turpin joined O2 in 2001 and has held a number of senior appointments in his 17-year tenure. He has led the Consumer Sales and Supply Chain functions as well as O2’s company-wide transformation programme. Most recently, Gareth was Director of Customer Service, leading responsibility for O2’s key strategic partnership with Capita since 2012. He was invited by Mark Evans, CEO, to act as interim Sales Director on the Executive Committee in September 2017, an appointment which has now been made permanent.

Gareth said of his appointment, “I am delighted to be accepting the role of Sales Director for Telefónica UK, having spent nearly two decades with the company. The opportunity will allow me to bring together all the experience amassed in my various roles with my passion to make every day better for our customers. As well as helping to grow our consumer base, I am excited by the prospect of helping our business customers unlock significant gains in productivity, performance and profitability using the power of mobile.”

Telefónica UK’s Executive Committee has a 50:50 gender split, which the business hopes will become the yardstick for the industry and beyond.