Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Zain to Cut Down on 2,000 Jobs, Plans to Outsource More Functions


Zain has announced that it is cutting some 2,000 jobs as it streamlines its operations and increases the outsourcing some back office/non-core functions to strategic partners. The project, Drive2011 is expected to improve Zain’s operating margin by 5% within 12 months.

The Zain Group will align its head office and operations structures in accordance with the new operating model. This will result in Zain reducing its current 15,500 global workforce by 2,000 - a 13% reduction across the board. Zain operations in Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malawi and Sierra Leone have already begun the process.

“Drive2011 is a natural consequence of Zain’s evolutionary journey. It was planned soon after the launch of our ACE strategy in 2007 and is a structured and timetabled approach to maximizing efficiency,” declared Zain Group CEO Dr Saad Al Barrak. “We will create genuine market differentiation through our services and deliver on our Zain brand promise of ‘A wonderful world’. This will be achieved through a combination of managed outsourcing, centralization and leveraging capabilities, as well as training and development for our personnel, all of which will improve our operating efficiencies.”

In a move aimed at tackling the challenges ahead and attaining other 2011 targets of 150 million customers and a US$6 billion EBITDA, Dr Al Barrak also announced several senior management changes at both Group and country operation level.

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