Finance director moves to top job as Phil Rider retains role as chairman; new prepay MVNO, Banana Mobile, launches
Digital Phone Company has appointed Chris Share as its new managing director, with Phil Rider retaining his position as chairman.
Share (pictured left) has worked for the Great Yarmouth-based company for nine years and has held the position of finance director for the past five.
He will be responsible for the company’s retail brand, Digital Phone Company, which has 10 stores, and its B2B brand, OneStream.
His appointment was confirmed during the company’s annual staff awards dinner last month.
Prior to Share’s promotion, Rider (pictured right) was both managing director and chairman of the company.
He will remain heavily involved with the company, and will now place additional focus and time on its recently opened satellite office in Scotland.
The changes will also result in a number of job openings, including new sales teams for both business brands as well as account management roles.
Rider said: “Chris brings a sharp intellect and eye for detail to the role as well as having the complete respect and admiration of his colleagues on the board, a board which now boasts over 100 years’ experience in our industry. This change puts us in a great position for continued success over the coming years.
“While I retain a very hands-on role as chairman, Chris will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the company, leaving me free to focus on expanding the business and spending more time in our Scottish office on a weekly basis.”
Share said: “We continue to drive forward towards a truly integrated marketplace within telecoms, fixed line and IT. We have always promoted a culture of developing people and my appointment is testament to that belief.
“I will drive the evolution of our company and am fortunate to be aided by a strong board and talented sales team who put the customer at the centre of everything they do.”
Meanwhile Digital Phone Company has launched its own prepay MVNO called Banana Mobile.
The MVNO, which runs off Everything Everywhere, launched in February and is being sold in all 10 Digital Phone Company stores in Beccles, Cromer, Dereham, Fakenham, Holt, Thetford, Wisbech and Great Yarmouth. More than 100 customers have now signed up.
Banana Mobile is a white-labelled product through distributor Shebang, which provides the service and pricing.
DPC sales director Richard King said customers will receive £60 of Banana Mobile credit when they sign up – paid in £5 installments each time the customers tops up by at least £10.
Calls on the MVNO cost 7p per minute and text messages cost 5p. The company claims this is 40 per cent cheaper than other networks.
Customers will be able to top up at all DPC stores, online and at 50,000 points of sale across the UK through the company’s partnership with epay, Payzone and PayPoint.
King said: “Feedback has been excellent, with new users bowled over by the value on offer. We’re looking to increase the customer base quickly.”