topic Re: Upcoming community team changes in Welcome & News

Upcoming community team changes

Martin-O2 — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 10:59:08 GMT

Hi everyone,

I have some important news to share about some upcoming changes to the community team. As some of you know the O2 community has been managed by a 3rd party company for the past 10 years. This has been a fantastic partnership which has seen the O2 Community grow and flourish over the years with numerous improvements to the community platform and in the way that the community is managed, which has allowed us to provide a better customer experience and make the community one of the best out there!

Regrettably this partnership is coming to and end which means that myself and @Breanna will be leaving the community at the end of August. There will be a new community team coming in (who will be introduced shortly) to take over under the guidance of @Chris_K, who has been a major part of managing the community alongside the community team for many years now. Myself and Breanna will be working with the new team during August to help the transition and hand over the tasks and you shouldn't notice any major changes to how the community is managed.

On a personal note I wanted to say how much I have enjoyed my time working on the O2 community! We have gone through some major changes over the years with several facelifts to the platform including the introduction of the responsive design, the launch of multiple new boards and tons of fun games, quizzes, movie nights and interesting conversations in off topic! It's been a real pleasure and I'm going to miss working on this community and interacting with the members.

If anyone has any questions or concerns about this news please let us know in the comments below.

Martin and Breanna

Re: Upcoming community team changes

jonsie — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 11:08:55 GMT

Such a shame. Not many people like change and it will be interesting to see how the future of the community develops

@Martin-O2 @Breanna you have been a big part of our lives on the community and thank you for all you have done for not only the community but also on a personal level

There has been a lot of changes of managers over the years but I wish you both the best in the next chapter of your careers

Good luck and Bon Voyage!

Re: Upcoming community team changes

Breanna — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 11:13:50 GMT

@jonsie going right for the heart on that one 😭 I've not been here long but I'm gonna miss you guys.

Re: Upcoming community team changes

gmarkj — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 11:24:51 GMT

Them's some big shoes to fill!

Really sorry to hear that @Martin-O2 . As @jonsie says, you both you and @Breanna are a big part of the community and have helped navigate some tricky waters through your time with us.

Good luck to both of you with whatever you are going to next, and as with all the other previous community managers you are both welcome back anytime.

Re: Upcoming community team changes

Enlli — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 11:28:45 GMT

Best wishes to @Martin-O2 and @Breanna, obviously there are big changes coming up in the near future and there is still an uncertainty on VM/O2 staffing, but whatever happens you can hold your heads up that you did a good job while you were here.

All the best for the future, wherever the road leads.

Re: Upcoming community team changes

BobM — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 11:35:49 GMT

@Martin-O2 @Breanna

Really sorry to hear you're leaving us, you'll both be badly missed by everyone on here.

There are obviously changes ahead and somehow I don't think it will be all good news, but hope I'm wrong.

My best wishes to you both for the future.

Re: Upcoming community team changes

Chris_K — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 11:43:31 GMT

Grab a cuppa, fetch some tissues and hold onto your hats - I'm about to get emotional... 😢

For a long time now, and for longer than I've been part of the O2 Community, we've had unbelievable support, expertise and advice from Standing on Giants (SoG), a third party supplier we partnered with who has origins within O2 itself. SoG, who employ Martin and Breanna and all of the past Community Managers you may remember - including Toby, Marjo, Emilie, Lukas, Theresa, Carla, Mercedes, Lewys & Rafa - have been managing the day-to-day running of the Community, planning content to keep you engaged, and making the O2 Community feel like, well, a community.

I just want to say thank you @Martin-O2 and @Breanna for all of your amazing and hard work. And Martin, you've been such a huge constant for us on the Community, steering us for many years. I can't even begin to convey just how much I've valued your expertise and how much I'll miss your support and even just our catch-up's and chit chats. We've had a fantastic working relationship over the years to the point I'll always see you as a friend more than a colleague/partner.

I hate goodbye's but Martin, Breanna, and everyone at SoG that has helped get the O2 Community to where it is today - thank you, truly, for everything. You're amazing at what you do and I hope our paths cross again at some point in the future. Until then, we love you and already miss you.

To our members: I'd hate for this farewell thread to become political, but I know you may have questions so I will create a new thread in the coming days outlining our new structure and what to expect, but long story short: Martin, Breanna and all at SoG have helped build the O2 Community legacy and it's not something I'll allow to be thrown away. We'll take what they have built and we'll use that as a rock solid foundation. This is your community, and I hope you'll all stay with us for the next leg of the journey.

Re: Upcoming community team changes

Martin-O2 — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 12:06:45 GMT

Thanks for the kind words @jonsie, @gmarkj, @Enlli, @BobM it's been a wild ride over the past 7 and a half years and I'm immensely proud of what we've managed to achieve as a community during my time here. The heart of the community is the members and I'm happy that this community will continue to be a fantastic place to get help and have fun in my absence.

I also want to say a big thank you to @Chris_K and @ColinO2 for the ongoing support over the years. They have both been strong advocates of the community during my time here and it wouldn't be what it is today without them. They will both continue to take a big part in managing the community once we've gone so you will be in good hands!!

Re: Upcoming community team changes

madasaf1sh — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 12:46:48 GMT

Will be sorry to see you go @Martin-O2 @Breanna

You will both be missed, and your help with stuff has been much appreciated over the years, hope you wont be come strangers on here, but as they onwards and upwards.

And good luck for the future @Chris_K and his new team will have some big shoes to fill

Re: Upcoming community team changes

Martin-O2 — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 15:17:51 GMT

Thanks @madasaf1sh! I'm going to miss this place, it's been a big part of my life for nearly a decade now so I'm sad to be leaving.

Re: Upcoming community team changes

Trapped_fly — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 11:31:28 GMT

Only for a short while have I been buzzing about getting to know my new room … O2-UK!

Having discovered that greater part of the active (and most helpful) community help-givers say …

“I have no affiliation whatsoever with O2 or any subsidiary companies. Comments posted are entirely of my own opinion”

and

“This is not Customer Service so we are unable to help with account specific issues”

… I was delighted to ‘settle’ with @Martin and @Breanna (currently) “staff” only now to hear Alice say …

“they’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace”!

That’s a shame!

(but with a warm welcome @Chris_K [O2 Social Media Team since ‎…].

I have some thoughts and observations to communicate (lays more eggs) …

and I will try to not be ‘a pest’ …

Thank you @Breanna for the much appreciated personal welcome as I metamorphosed from VirginMobile and to @Martin providing the team leadership.

@Trapped_fly

Re: Upcoming community team changes

Bambino — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 12:20:30 GMT

Sorry to see you go @Martin-O2 and @Breanna. Best of luck for the future. Also wishing @Chris_K good luck in his new role here.

Re: Upcoming community team changes

Martin-O2 — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 15:35:43 GMT

Thanks @Bambino! 😊

Re: Upcoming community team changes

Mi-Amigo — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 19:49:18 GMT

@Martin-O2 and @Breanna

It is sad news to hear that you are leaving.

In the short time I have been a member of this Community, we have seen several changes, but weathered the storm and have a Community which is supportive, helpful, and above all friendly.

As I have said on many occasions this is not another forum but a Community and not only a place where problems can be addressed by knowledgeable members but with Off Topic we have a place to relax and have fun.

As we enter the new era, my only hope and wish is for all that we like about the Community will continue; and the new incoming team will be as helpful and co-operative, and will join in the activities as the previous Community Managers have done.

Re: Upcoming community team changes

Toby — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:56:29 GMT

Its been a joy to watch you both run the community @Martin-O2 and @Breanna and its so lovely to see the replies here that reflect what a good job you have done :). Very proud!

Re: Upcoming community team changes

Pipstop78 — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 08:04:02 GMT

Ah no bre you not going as well are you going to miss you lots

Re: Upcoming community team changes

Spenny — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 08:35:56 GMT

Oh no @Martin-O2 @Breanna , I have only been on the community for a short time but you have both always been so engaged and helpful. I know change is always happening but so sorry to see you go. This really is a community.

Re: Upcoming community team changes

pgn — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 16:07:18 GMT

Missed this at the start of August, but in a way, I guess it may have been for the best... Good luck to @Martin-O2 and @Breanna and welcome into the driving seat to @Chris_K, @Dave-O2 and @ColinO2 - challenging times ahead of all on the journey alongside VM Forum I suspect.

Re: Upcoming community team changes

Cleoriff — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 07:42:43 GMT

I also missed this when it was first posted so I'm shocked.

So sorry to lose you @Martin-O2 and @Breanna. You have been so helpful to many of us and me personally whilst I have attempted to overcome my health problems. I won't forget either of you, nor our previous managers. I wish you well and hope you keep in touch. Thanks for everything. ❤️

Best of luck @Chris_K. @Dave-O2 and @ColinO2 -

Re: Upcoming community team changes

Martin-O2 — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 15:56:55 GMT

@Pipstop78, @Spenny, @Toby, @Mi-Amigo, @pgn @Cleoriff thanks for the kind words! 😭 Tomorrow will officially be our last day so keep an eye out for my fair well post and the intro to the new community manager.