Verizon Adds Telematics Unit to New Business Group

Verizon Communications, Inc. has realigned its governance structure into three groups, and added its Verizon Connect telematics unit to the business group, so it can "optimize growth opportunities in the 5G era," the company has announced.

Under the new structure, Verizon is setting up the consumer, business, and Oath media groups. The business group will include Verizon Connect, as well as the wireless and wireless enterprise, small and medium business, government businesses, as well as wireless wholesale. The group will be led by Tami Erwin, who is now the executive vice president of wireless operations.

Andrés Irlando, Verizon Connect's chief executive, will begin reporting to Erwin on Dec. 1.

"We are rallying our business around our customers and how best to help them be safer, more productive and more efficient," said Krys Grondorf, a Verizon Connect spokeperson. "It's a change from organizing ourselves by our product categories. By grouping products, solutions, and services under consumer or B2B, Verizon Connect is better able to provide everything customers need to optimize the way their people, vehicles, and things move through the world."

The three groups will be supported by Verizon's network and information technology organization and corporate-wide staff functions.

"This new structure reflects a clear strategy that starts with Verizon customers," said Hans Vestberg, Verizon's chief executive. "We're building on our network transformation efforts and the Intelligent Edge architecture to deliver new customer experiences and optimize the growth opportunities we see as leaders in the 5G era. We’re focused on how our technology can benefit customers’ lives and society at large."

Vestberg is giving a keynote address in early January at CES 2019 in Las Vegas, where he's expected to speak about what the changes will mean for consumers.