HKT in top-level revamp

Cable & Wireless HKT has announced structural changes that involve senior appointments to newly created business units as it aims to become an integrated communications company.

The company has been divided into seven business units, with eight parallel divisions backing up the operation under the leadership of chief executive Linus Cheung Wing-lam.

Allen Ma, chief executive of interactive multimedia services, was replaced by David Prince.

The unit is to be renamed consumer aggregate.

Mr Ma, who is also an executive director, now heads external relations, partnership and alliance management, a new division.

William Cheung, head of HKT's mobile unit, was assigned additional responsibilities of overseeing network operations and services.

Other units are group sales and marketing, business aggregate, international services and regional business, and technical and new venture management.

All the appointments were effective yesterday.

In an internal circular given to selected staff yesterday, HKT said that the restructuring was undertaken in an effort to keep pace with rapid developments in the information technology industry.

'We have to change from a traditional telecoms company to an integrated communications company in order to ride on these new business opportunities,' the circular said.

Under the new structure, HKT will consolidate existing sales channels, build new e-commerce business and vigorously expand into the region.

In addition to group external relationships, partnership and alliance management, the company will have corporate function divisions incorporating planning and Greater China development, finance and legal, human resources, risk management and directors board.

The company also will have two shared-services divisions: customer services channel and information technology and electronic commerce platform development.

After the reorganisation, HKT will focus on regional business development, business growth, return on investment, e-commerce and value-added services, according to the circular.

In an e-mail to staff last Friday, Mr Linus Cheung said the restructuring would not result in any lay-offs.

However, 'it's too early to say' if staff cuts would be needed, yesterday's circular said.

'It depends on the company's needs after the reorganisation.' Brokers speculated the reorganisation could pave the way for parent Britain-based Cable & Wireless to dispose of its interest in the company.

'The reorganisation is driven by the company's business development in face of globalisation and competitive environment,' the company said.

'We will not comment on speculations on shareholding.'