Verizon undergoes rejig in push towards 5G

Bloomberg

Verizon Communications Inc. unveiled a reorganisation focussed on three groups — consumers, business customers and media — as part of Chief Executive Officer Hans Vestberg’s plan to advance 5G
wireless technology.
Vestberg, who spent his entire career at communications-equipment maker Ericsson AB before coming to Verizon in April 2017, is making network technology a priority throughout the company. Fifth-generation wireless service, or 5G, is a particular focus. “All of our consumer groups will be served by 5G,” Vestberg said in an interview. “That is transforming how we impact the market.”
After interviews with 300 of the company’s top leaders over the past several months, Vestberg has drafted a plan to reconfigure the current structure, which was a collection of separate businesses like wireless and the Fios landline video service. Under the new grouping, which takes effect January 1, delineations between wireless and landline are being replaced by a focus on end customers, either consumers or businesses.
Ronan Dunne, the former head of wireless, will lead Verizon’s consumer group, and Tami Erwin will lead the business group. Guru Gowrappan, who currently runs a division known as Oath, will lead the media operation. That unit is trying to create a digital-advertising business to challenge giants, including Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Facebook Inc.
Oath, which was formed when the company acquired online properties AOL and Yahoo, will be renamed Verizon Media Group/Oath under the new structure. The rebranding appears to be an effort to sideline a name that has drawn ridicule on social media. The name Oath was part of an in-house branding effort led by media chief Tim Armstrong, and it was greeted by some scoffs.