T-Mobile loses head of business marketing
T-Mobile International vice-president of business marketing Celia Francis is leaving after three years at the company.
It is not known if Francis has a job to go to but she is understood to want to pursue more “entrepreneurial opportunities” in the mobile industry. She will leave on October 31.
The mobile phone giant has started searching for her replacement. Vice-president of marketing strategy and services Andre Stark will take over her responsibilities in the interim.
Francis joined T-Mobile as head of products in 2001 and helped launch the company’s picture messaging service. She was promoted to vice-president of business marketing in 2002 and led the team that was responsible for wireless broadband internet service T-Mobile HotSpot, which is available in Starbucks coffee houses.
Francis reported to former chief marketing officer Nikesh Arora until he left last month (MW August 19). She has since been reporting to chief executive Rene Obermann, who has assumed responsibility for marketing until Arora’s successor is appointed.
T-Mobile is gearing up for its launch into the 3G market in the run-up to Christmas. Along with Vodafone and Orange, the company says it plans to introduce 3G handsets before the end of the year to compete against Hutchison Whampoa’s 3.
