This article is from page 12 of the 2006-03-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
SOURCES at mid-west communications company, Chorus have confirmed that key management positions are to be shifted to Dublin.
Following the buying of NTL Ireland by the Chorus parent company, UPC Broadband, in December 2005, integration plans have been underway.
These plans will see the new MD of the company based in Dublin, along with a number of key management positions answerable to the MD.
And there is widespread speculation that duplication of personnel could lead to redundancies within the company.
The process of integrating Chorus and NTL commenced in February 2006 with the appointment of new senior management and an integration team to lead the business of the combined NTL Ireland and Chorus group.
A spokeswoman for the company said they were now “devoting their energy and resources towards the integration of both Irish operations. They are working on a plan of integration intended to achieve the financial, operational and strategic benefits offered by a new structure.”
The spokeswoman said that under the new structure, the company would be a national one with its HQ in Dublin and facilities nationwide.
“As the integration process is underway it is too early to say if there will be any redundancies,” the spokeswoman said.
“The focus of the integration is not about reducing headcount, rather improving the way we run our business,” she added.
Both companies together now serve approximately 575,000 customers for their television, broadband internet and telephone services and have become one of the larger affiliates of UPC Broadband in Europe. Gene Musselman, who is Chief Operations Officer and President of UPC Broadband, is currently acting Managing Director NTL Ireland and Chorus.
“The company is reviewing a number of key applicants at the moment and it is hoped the new MD will be announced in due course,” the spokeswoman said.
Chorus, with headquarters in Limerick, employs more than 550 people in Ireland and an additional 100 indirectly as well as relying on numerous Irish vendors.