It’s with some sadness that we have to report that Neil Laycock, our CEO has decided to hang up his Plusnet boots and, at the risk of mixing too many metaphors, pass on the baton to his successor. Neil has decided that, solely for personal reasons, he’d like to move on, having done a sterling job here overseeing the business through the past two years.
Whilst it’s always sad to say goodbye to a friend, and a good friend he has been to us all here at Plusnet, it’s also exciting to look to the future and know that we’re in good hands. I’m pleased to be able to tell you that Anthony Vollmer (pictured), currently General Manager of Voice Propositions in BT Retail’s consumer division, will take over the helm, as the new CEO of PlusNet from Monday, 17 November 2008.
Neil will stick around until the end of December to make sure that it’s a smooth transition and I’m sure that he’ll pop in here before he goes to give a personal farewell.
There are some changes too at the very top, with John Petter, Managing Director of BT Retail’s Consumer Division, becoming Plusnet’s Chairman and current Chairman Jon Hurry stepping down but remaining on the Board of Directors.
I think that today’s announcement demonstrates once more our parent company’s enthusiasm about Plusnet and, together with my colleagues here, I’m looking forward to working with Anthony to continue to provide you with the very best Internet services and customer service.
This entry was posted by Peter Jackson on Thursday, November 13th, 2008 at 5:28 pm and is tagged with BT, Industry News, PlusNet and is posted in the category PlusNet News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
just hope that the bt retail guys leave there current knowledge of what customer service is with bt retail and learn the PN way of CS.:~)
I trust that the replacement of Plusnet's CEO by the MD of BT Retail will not affect the official Plusnet policy with regard to the commercially disastrous use of "Webwise" (Phorm spyware).
Ex BT,saw that coming.
Just as long as the appointment of 2 BT employees rather than PN employees does not signal a shift in focus, I'm not too worried.
I just have my concerns that we will see PN slowly transform into what BT Broadband currently is - an ISP for the less IT savvy.
Having worked with Neil for nearly 5 years, I'm fighting two extreme emotions: I'm most definitely sad that he's going, his support and drive have been a motivation to every one- not least me. But I'm also pleased for Neil as he now has a new challenge, and I know how he thrives on a challenge - there's certainly been a few of them over the last 5 years!
Good luck, Neil!
I'm sorry to hear this, I can see this being the slippery slope. A BT CEO, I hope he has the BT chip removed. Is he frightened to come on his own then?
Moggy > He doesn't start till the 17th, so give him a chance 
p.s. Neil Laycock used to work at BT too...
opps should of seen what was going to follow after my post.
of cause let them get to the desk b4 we dish them.
just wanted to remind that we PN customers dont settle for second best broadband and cs
Can you please let Mr Vollmer know that the reason we are paying PN our money is that it is *not* behaving like BT? That includes both the CSC and its policy on the Phorm scam.
If he seems keen to make his mark please ask him to support the above two PN positions and sort out the seriously disruptive throttling problems that some of us are suffering.
Welcome to PN.
Why is everyone up-tight about the new CEO being ex-BT? It's a good thing, we are getting someone experienced... besides, I doubt it will take long for the Plusnet crew to turn him into a Plusnet CEO, I'll give them until the Christmas party. 
Congratulations to Mr Vollmer, it's now up to you to guide and continue Plusnet to the top, I wish you luck
At least he will see why PN are leaders for Customer Service with such an open, outspoken, active, critical but fiercely loyal customer base.
Welcome on board Mr Vollmer.
It was announced yesterday that BT have 10,000 staff to put on the scrap heap.
I second axisofevils' concern about webstalker sorry webwise.
If this gets implmented, safeguard or no, I'm off!
Me too.
I'm sure we're all concerned about Phorm. But the regularly re-occurring scares (which is all they are) about it are getting boring.
Let's give the guy a chance. Its hardly a surprise that the new chap is from BT!!
this explains why i went for an interview for sky talk and was rejected.the feedback they gave was because of my honesty in the complications that i felt had happened between bt and virgin partially due to BT.
Politics is absolutely diabolical especially when brown nosing is now the only way to get forward.
As a long established subscriber, I trust Madasafish to appoint the right people, just as I trust their expertise in all other respects. I also appreciate this family forum, where user comments are welcome.
i left bt as their service so bad, they increased prices by 2000% for evening and weekend calls, entered me into a contract which i did not agree to (eventually got the money back despite them refusing to return calls, emails and then credting my bt account - which is non existent as far as i am concerned because i left bt)
i hope this guy sees customers as customers and not just awkward numbers like bt
I left BT because of the appalling way they treated their customers. I can only believe that the change of structure at the will be to our disadvantage and that BT will change the culture at Plusnett.
Here at Plusnet we're always trying to use clever open source things to make our lives easier. Sometimes we write our own and make other people's lives easier too!
We sell broadband, phone, VoIP and more to homes and businesses in the UK. Winner of 9 out of 11 Categories in the 2008 USwitch survey. Winner of "Best Consumer ISP" at 2008 ISPA awards. Voted number 1 in the Broadband Choices 2008 survey.
© Plusnet plc All Rights Reserved. E&OE
Community Site News is powered by WordPress
