STARCOMMS OFFERS FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND JOBS ON PHONE

Starcomms Plc, the listening network, has introduced another innovation for the convenience of the customers. This is a value added service for job-seekers especially young graduates and experienced professionals who seek new employments. Aptly titled Jobs-on-phone, it is a personalized voice based job portal, which helps Starcomms customers to seek new employment or recruitments through their Starcomms fixed or mobile phones.

In recent times, Starcomms customers have been asking for solutions to the difficulty they experience regarding employment opportunities. Job vacancies appear in most cases in the newspapers or on the Internet, both of which have limited circulation, time frame and user groups.

Speaking on the novel idea of Jobs on Phone, the chief commercial officer of Starcomms Tushar Maheshwari said that the huge opportunity that the service presents is part of the commitment of Starcomms to listen and proffer solutions to the teeming customers

“The service is designed as a portal, which links employees with prospective employers. It is a service that can be easily accessed by all mobile and fixed Starcomms customers anytime, anywhere, thus providing a large-scale database of jobseekers. It is unique in the sense that it has diversity and a readily available database of jobseekers from different strata of the society rather than just in the newspapers or the Internet. It is very interactive and fast,” Maheshwari said.

To use Starcomms Jobs-on-phone service a customer will dial the service code, *32640 to register and create their profile in the voice data base. The required data will include information like age, gender, location, qualifications and experience, As soon as a vacancy exists that matches the profile of the customer, they will be notified on their Starcomms phones via SMS. The customer is then expected to dial into the service to listen to the job openings and respond to the advertisement.

After this, the profile of the job seekers will be sent to the recruiter. The recruiter listens to the voice profiles of the job seekers and invites those that fit their requirements for test or interview. The recruiter at this stage can call the candidate directly.

STARCOMMS APPOINTS COO, CFO

In a bid to strengthen its management in the highly competitive telecommunication industry, the board of Starcomms Plc, has approved the appointments of two new top management staff.

They are Logan Pather, chief operating officer and David Ordman as chief financial officer. Starcomms is Nigeria’s only publicly quoted telecommunications company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). Its shares were listed on July 14, 2008.

Pather has had a range of senior management positions spanning over 25 years in the telecommunication industry. An MBA holder, he had worked in several telecom companies in Africa.
A former managing director of Roamwave Africa, Pather who was responsible for 20 African countries is bringing with him a wealth of experience to add to the fortunes of Starcomms. He was also responsible for setting up the organization in South Africa.
His career is highlighted by a strong in-depth knowledge and exposure across all core business functions such as finance, sales, marketing, human resources and customer service operations.
Pather, who also holds a Diploma in Business Management, has worked in Nortel Southern Africa and Telecel – Zambia as managing director responsible for operational strategy and growth.
David Ordman, an engineer who also holds an MBA, is armed with a wealth of experience of over 18 years in various sectors in the world to bear on the fortunes of Starcomms.

A former finance director within the EMAAR, (the Economic City in Saudi Arabia), Ordman had the responsibility for all aspects of finance within the utilities and telecoms division of the company, delivering multi-utility solution within King Abdullah Economic city, a $2billion mega project.
Also in his previous work experience, he had worked as chief financial officer in United Utilities Plc of Estonia and Bulgaria as well as Millicom International of Pakistan.
An alumnus of the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, Ordman who studied Civil Engineering and trained with Price Waterhouse Cooper holds an Order of Merit from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales. He got his MBA from the London Business School, United Kingdom and Columbia Business School, United States of America.

ADVERTISING INVESTMENT TO HIT N120BN IN 2011

Above the line (ATL) media investment which hit N80 billion in 2010 is projected to increase to N120 billion this year, representing about 90 per cent of overall marketing spend.

Mr. Olayiwola Afolabi, managing director of Media Planning Services Limited (MPN) disclosed this in Lagos recently while presenting a paper entitled Modern Approach to Media Investment -researcher’s insight, at a one-day media industry seminar organised by Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) in conjunction with Zus Bureau and Media Planning Services.

He noted that practitioners - marketers, advertising and media agencies - have been slow to accept that the old models to media Investments, many of them created more than fifty years ago, are no longer applicable to the new consumer media world.

Afolabi observed that in industry discussions with leading advertising and media agencies, media owners, content providers, market researchers and advertisers, one major factor stands out as the fundamental issue to media investment approach – data access and usage.

He contended that all stakeholders involved in media channel strategy either have access to significant amounts of unique/proprietary data (data silos) or have knowledge/experience (individual silos) that is deployed as part of their communication delivery process.

He defined media investment as the act of investing; laying out money or capital on media channels with the expectation of reaching media audience cost effectively or how much to spend on media as well as how to allocate the spending across various media and the researcher as somebody who performs research, the search for knowledge or in general any systemic investigation to establish facts, adding that researchers can work in academic, industrial, government, or private institutions.

Also speaking, Mr. Tolu Ogunkoya, president of MIPAN who in his paper gave a specialist insight on modern approach to media investments noted that significant cynicism exist in the advertiser mind about the value delivered by media advertising, adding that in today’s media industry, media planning and buying is critical to the advertiser’s business.

While highlighting the role of the media in the marketing decision process at the seminar, which was attended by representatives from media houses, advertisers, advertising and media agencies, he said that marketing objectives must define what needs to be achieved.
He also said that advertising objectives should also define what advertising must d to fulfill marketing objectives.
Also speaking at the seminar, Mr. Kevin Ejiofor, managing director of City 105.1FM Radio in his paper entitled Modern Approach to broadcast media selling: Lessons from research, said let research become an industry-wide responsibility as a matter of life and death.
He defined research as the search for knowledge, or any systematic investigation, with an open mind, to establish novel facts, usually a scientific method.
Ejiofor said some of the lessons that would be derived from research are openness, accountability through participation and principle of common interest.
He said democratization of research would sanitise the results of research, separate myths from facts, end disputations and the compilation of reliable statistics to aid effective planning.
He urged stakeholders to pay close attention to offering quantifiable value to the industry through democratization of research.
Speaking from the perspective of an advertiser, Mr. Kolawole Oyeyemi, a general manager with MTN said media platform that would be an advertiser’s delight must demonstrate excellent and measurable impact of the message on the desired target customer of the advertiser.
It should also present itself as a brand engagement platform and not as an impersonal static platform and should optimally deliver good returns on investment and not seen as cost centre to the business.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Chris Doghudje MD, Zus Bureau said the seminar was intended to provide a new direction in the optimization of media budget because globally, there is convergence of media.
He noted that newspapers’ circulation was dwindling and media has become very expensive, especially the print media, adding that there is need for content development to attract the target audience.
For Mr. Kole Ademelekun, President Association of Outdoor Advertising Practitioners there is need to gather adequate data for research purposes.

He said government agencies were driving outdoor rates up while operators are restricted to commission and stressed the need for outdoor advertising to be flexible.

MIPAN, ZUS BUREAU TO HOST STAKEHOLDERS IN CAPACITY BUILDING SEMINAR


As part of sustained efforts in assisting stakeholders in the media industry to achieve the objectives of media budget, Media Independents Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) in conjunction with Zus Bureau and Media Planning Services,(MPS) will host key stakeholders at a media industry seminar slated for March 9, 2011 at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Lagos.
The one day seminar titled: Modern Techniques in Media Investments, which will have in attendance representatives from media houses, advertisers, advertising and media agencies is designed to enable practitioners in the industry to embrace international best practice.
While addressing a joint press conference on the forthcoming seminar, the President of MIPAN, Tolu Ogunkoya and the Managing Director of Zus Bureau, Chris Doghudje said that the seminar will expose practitioners to international practices that will improve local practice.
According to Ogunkoya, media budget forms the largest part of most marketing support budgets stressing that it was high time that such critical decision making process “moves away from hunches, gut feels, man-known-man and arguable corrupt practices”.
He therefore said that the seminar is being organized for the educating, training and development of all key decision makers and staff members of media houses, advertisers, advertising and media agencies involved in the media budget noting that media budget should be governed by the use of credible data and software process.
He disclosed that Media Planning Services, (MPS) through the input of its founder, Lai Afolabi, one of the co-organizers will be offering insights on data and software used in the industry adding that MPS has successfully introduced and managed international standard media research in Nigeria.
While revealing further the team of speakers that have been assembled to deliver thoughtful papers based on their many years of experiencing in the industry Ogunkoya said that the entire session of the seminar will be moderated by former Managing Director of Lintas Nigeria and immediate past chairman of APCON, Chris Doghudje.
Answering questions from journalist at the press briefing, Doghudje that the partnership of MIPAN, Zus Bureau and MPS in the hosting of the seminar is because the trio share similar objectives.
He noted that the seminar will afford participants the opportunity to tap from the wealth of knowledge that the industry has benefited from Zus Bureau over the years adding that “over the past 20 years Zus Bureau has contributed significantly to the growth of the advertising and marketing sectors in Nigeria through knowledge development, sharing of industry information thorough the consistent publication of leading publications like Adnews”.

STARCOMMS PRIZES INSPIRE MORE YOUNGSTERS INTO BOXING

A young pugilist in the Lagos Amateur Boxing Association, Taiwo Abiodun, who won the Starcomms Over-all Best Boxer prize at the 18th edition of the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame boxing competition has said that more young boxers who quit the punching game has returned to the boxing ring.
Abiodun, a 15 years-old student of Blessing College, Ijokoro and amember of the No Shaking Boxing Club, who fought and defeatedOgunyemi Razak of Paramount Boxing Club in the Cadet category saidthat the Starcomms prize has continued to draw them back to thesport which they had long abandoned.
While speaking on the secret of his success, the young boxer who began to box two years ago said that the commitment of Starcomms in the monthly boxing event played a formidable role in the returning of more youngsters to boxing adding that he has Starcomms to thank for the level of skills he has achieved so far.
According to him, he has a strong passion for the boxing sport notingthat the prize he saw other boxers win every month of the show fueledhis passion to attain great heights in boxing.
While appreciating the unflagging support of Starcomms for the game,he said it is a thing of great joy to him to see a lot of people swanaround him as the hero of the day noting that it was the first time ofexperiencing what it feels like to be a winner in the sport he lovesso much.
Another winner in the February fight, Mutiu Gbadebo of Agege PioneerBoxing Club who fought in the 69 kg category defeating his opponent,Sakiru Ishola of Smart Boxing Club also said that Starcomms has support has brought more young boxers to the game.
The 29 years-old boxer who has been boxing for the past seven yearssaid that the sponsorship of Starcomms has helped to improve hisboxing skills saying that he will want the telecomm operator tocontinue in its good works.
According to Gbadebo, it is the commitment of Starcomms to the monthly event that has brought fame to many amateur boxers saying that it has also helped to keep young people from criminal activities since they now channel their youthful energy to the sport.
The monthly boxing event, which is organized by the Lagos State Boxing Hall of Fame in conjunction with the Lagos Amateur Boxing Association and sponsored by Starcomms Plc takes place every last Saturday, at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba, Lagos.

KUDUS ADELEKE, STARCOMMS BOXING HERO UNVIELS SECRET OF VICTORY

Kudus Adeleke, the first amateur boxer in 2011 to be crowed the Starcomms over-all best in the Lagos State Boxing Hall of Fame Boxing Competition has said that determination and perseverance gave him the highly converted Starcomms Boxing hero title.Adeleke, an amateur from Lagelu Boxing Club of Lagos who fought with Adeola Olabisi of Costain Boxing Club in the 56 KG category said that he joined the boxing club in 2009 with the determination to become a boxer hero. And the monthly competition, which is organized by Lagos State Boxing Hall of Fame in conjunction with the Lagos Amateur Boxing Association and sponsored by Starcomms Plc, gave him the platform to achieve his dream.Expressing his appreciation to Starcomms for creating the opportunity that made him a boxing hero, he said that he was happy that Starcomms is the channel through which that dream become true saying that he will want to retain the title in the next month’s fight.The young boxer who was adjudged the Starcomms all-over best boxer by a combined team of judges for his gallant display of boxing skills said that the involvement of Starcomms in the discovering of young talents like him in the boxing sports is a laudable stride that will help develop the sport noting that he is glad that he is a Starcomms hero.While reacting to the news of the latest winner of the Starcomms over all best boxer in the competition, the chief commercial officer of Starcomms, Tushar Maheshwari disclosed that it is one of Starcomms way of giving back to the society stressing that Starcomms is a company that listens to the people.He pledged that Starcomms will continue to give his support to ensure the regular hosting of the competition noting Starcomms is committed to anything that will improve the lot of the society noting that the competition is just one of such Starcomms expression of its desire for societal development.

STARCOMMS INTRODUCES FIRST OF ITS KIND MARKETING CAMPAIGN

Starcomms Plc has introduced a new marketing communications campaign that strongly re-affirms that its customers are the core of its business interest.Innovatively crafted to become a corporate philosophy, the new campaign with the slogan “listen to the network that is listening to you” is a campaign that has been embedded into the business and work style of all Starcomms personnel, cutting across all staff levels.According to the chief commercial officer of Starcomms, Tushar Maheshwari, the new marketing campaign is an expression of the value that Starcomms places on his customers noting that “this is not just a campaign that will be there for a few months or a year, it is a campaign that will be imbibed by all Starcomms personnel and thereby becomes a philosophy in our work ethics, particularly in how we respond to the needs of our customers”.Describing the new campaign as a brand refreshing concept, he said that “Starcomms as a brand has been in the mindset of telecoms service consumers for a long time, and enjoys significant awareness in their mind” stressing that “it is as a result of the many innovative and customer friendly products and services we have introduced into the market in the past.”Maheshwari however observed that the new campaign,which is meant to refresh the mind of the consumer about the value of the Starcomms brand, is not a rebranding of Starcomms saying that the Starcomms brand is a brand that inspires every consumer to be passionate about it.For instance, he said that “many customers are passionate about the philosophy of the talking drum, and that is part of “we speak your language” campaign, adding that “the new campaign does not take away the philosophy of the talking drum. It still remains relevant today as it was yesterday.”He said that “the campaign is the result of a study that was conduct long ago, whereby it was revealed that Starcomms is indeed a brand that listens to the consumer. And when the result came we felt that it was time for us to introduce a new campaign to re-vitalized the brand and to re-invent the brand by adding to what the brand already have and thereby take it forward.”According to him, a Nigerian singer, Nneka, will be the face of the brand in the new campaign, which will feature in newspaper, billboard and fliers across the country stating that the new campaign cuts across every sector of the society.He said that the campaign is key to Starcomms desire to meet the needs of its customers stressing that that hence, every personnel in the company has been taken through the theme of the campaign so that they will know how to listen to the consumer when the need arises.He further said that the new campaign is a demonstration of the innovativeness of Starcomms in the industry stating that “we have had a lot of campaign in the industry which has been spearheaded by us. One of them is the N10 international call rate, which has become common in the industry”.He also said Starcomms IZAP router was never advertised in the media, yet it has sold very well while the recently introduced myPAD has recorded phenomenal consumer response.