O2 seeks head for first CSR division

O2 is seeking a senior marketer to head a new corporate social responsibility (CSR) division. It is understood that O2 is the first mobile operator to launch a standalone CSR team.

The mobile operator wants to appoint a head of corporate responsibility, environment and community to lead its environment and sustainability arm and its corporate responsibility policy and government division, as well as overseeing its social investment programme. The successful candidate will report to O2 head of communications Glenn Manoff.

O2 is the latest brand to create a senior CSR role within its marketing and communications team. Land Rover appointed global brand communications director Julian Whitehead as director of sustainability and corporate and social responsibility in the summer (MW August 16).

The CSR position is the latest change to O2’s marketing and communications team. The company restructured its marketing department in June after its capability and innovation director Russ Shaw was promoted to a group position at parent company Telefonica (MW June 14).

The restructure saw his 96-strong innovation team disbanded and moved to other parts of the business.

The marketing team is now headed by Sally Cowdry, who took over from Shaw as marketing director last year.

In April O2 signed up to a government-backed scheme called “We’re In This Together”, which aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 25 million tonnes in the next three years.

The other companies supporting the initiative are Tesco, Marks & Spencer, BSkyB, B&Q, Barclaycard, British Gas and Royal & SunAlliance.