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Vodafone acquires WorldxChange to bring enhanced benefits to customers

10 June 2015 - Media Release

Vodafone has today announced the acquisition of WorldxChange, a New Zealand based telecommunications business delivering high reliability IP-based voice and converged services, in a move that brings complementary skills together to deliver enhanced solutions to Enterprise customers. 

Vodafone’s Chief Executive Officer, Russell Stanners, said, “This is a really exciting move for us.  WorldxChange is a world-class kiwi company specialising in converged unified communications services and its deep experience and 15-year proven history of delivering high-quality innovative solutions is a great complement to our existing business.

“Our focus is on delivering the best possible solutions to our customers and this deal allows us to enhance our total communications offering. We’re proud to be investing in this strong, kiwi company and to bring the benefits of its highly skilled technical capability to our customers.”  

 WorldxChange currently delivers communications services to a large customer base including Government, Corporate and business customers; as well as providing fixed and fibre solutions to high-end residential customers.  Its model includes capability for provision automation and self-service, offering flexibility and increased transparency for customers.

WorldxChange Chief Technology Officer and major shareholder, Paul Clarkin, said the company felt proud to be joining the Vodafone NZ group.

“This is a strong, positive move for us.  Vodafone has seen the value in our expertise and what we offer to customers, and the decision will see WorldxChange become a Unified Communications Centre of Excellence for Vodafone, showcasing our design and development know-how. 

“We’re combining our existing product set, technical capability and pre-sales expertise with Vodafone’s sales and marketing competence and highly-skilled Technology Team, to deliver leading products and services to Enterprise customers,” he said.

News of the acquisition has been welcomed by the industry. Broadsoft CEO, Mike Tessler congratulated Vodafone on the deal today;

We congratulate Vodafone on today's acquisition of WorldxChange - a longstanding BroadSoft channel partner that has built up significant expertise in next generation telephony and unified communications.

“By bringing WorldxChange's exceptional team into the fold, Vodafone is now strongly positioned to offer our superior UC-One platform and further differentiate its offering from competitors." 

WorldxChange will become a wholly-owned Vodafone subsidiary, governed by a combined Board of representatives from both WorldxChange and Vodafone NZ.


Video describing who WXC were.

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Our Story

WorldxChange (WXC) was set up in 1995 as local subsidiary of US telecommunications company CTS. In the early days, we specialised in Toll Bypass telephony and were instrumental in reducing the cost of international phone calls to the Kiwi mass market in the late '90s. 

In 2001, the original NZ management team bought the local company and it has been 100% Kiwi-owned and operated ever since.

In 2004, we launched the first fully converged IP-based telco network in the country.  At that time we had the foresight to identify and choose best-of-breed technology partners who have since emerged as global market leaders in their respective fields. 

Since then we have built up an extensive amount of expertise in next generation telephony and we are viewed by both customers and industry peers as the leading exponents of SIP Trunking and Hosted IP voice services in the country.

Today, WorldxChange is a market-leading 100% Kiwi-owned and operated telecommunications company providing high reliability IP-based voice services to Government and large commercial businesses across the country as well as servicing the mass consumer market with innovative converged voice & internet products.

Our customer portfolio includes such entities as IAG Insurance, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, Transpower, Reserve Bank, EQC, Navman and the Greater Wellington Regional Council. 

In 2013, we consolidated our "WorldxChange" and "Xnet" brands under a single "WXC" brand in recognition of our growing Residential and Corporate/Government portfolio.

In June 2015 WorldxChange became a wholly-owned Vodafone subsidiary. Vodafone’s Chief Executive Officer, Russell Stanners, said, “This is a really exciting move for us.  WorldxChange is a world-class kiwi company specialising in converged unified communications services and its deep experience and 15-year proven history of delivering high-quality innovative solutions is a great complement to our existing business."


Our Philosophy

WXC believe that technology advances made within our industry should translate into telecommunications services being more flexible, easier to manage and a lot less expensive for customers - regardless of their size.

Our core management team are also the owners of the company and we care passionately about every aspect of the business. We'’re not satisfied with simply providing a telephone service. The products must perform well, be easy to use and more intuitive than any others on the market.

The open, family-like environment at WXC encourages good old Kiwi ingenuity and out-of-the-box thinking and we can tailor products to suit individual needs as well as react quickly to resolve issues.

Leveraging our extensive experience in IP telephony, the team knows no bounds to finding solutions to their customer’s problems.             

Inveniemus viam aut faciemus

"We will find a way or we will make one”

 For press and media enquiries contact us at info@wxc.co.nz

 

In a snapshot:

  • June 2015 WXC becomes a wholly-owned Vodafone subsidiary
  • Market leader in deploying Voice-based IP solutions 
  • Large customer base including Residential, Business, Corporate and Government segments
  • Highly resilient and reliable carrier grade IP capability
  • Nimble and responsive in solution design and service delivery
  • Passion and commitment to our people underpins our success
  • Currently work with a large number of organisations including Transpower, IAG, Auckland Rescue Helicopter and Navman

Meet the WXC Team

WxC has a great team of dedicated people working to provide the best experience possible for you.

Glenn Johnstone Chief Executive Officer

Mark Stokes Chief Financial Officer

Mike Purchase Chief Operating Officer

Paul Clarkin Chief Technology Officer

Phillip Moore General Manager - Operations

Brett Thomson General Manager - Planning

Kevin O'Shaughnessy General Manager - Facilities

Glenn Johnstone Chief Executive Officer

As Chief Executive Officer, Glenn is responsible for the overall leadership and strategic direction of the business. Glenn has a background in company valuation with a Business Degree majoring in Finance. During his tenure at New Zealand Post, Glenn gained experience in a range of acquisition projects alongside large capital projects within the Post group. After working as a consultant to a range of top corporates in the project valuation field, Glenn joined WorldxChange as the GM Sales, moving to COO before his appointment as CEO in June 2012 following the successful execution of the management buyout. Glenn is a director and business shareholder.

Glenn has an interest in the racing industry, owning both horses and greyhounds. He also enjoys travelling especially to places where he can indulge in his love of history.

Mark Stokes Chief Financial Officer

With 19 years experience in Business Accounting and General Management, Mark has accountability for the financial strength and stability of our business. Mark became a Chartered Accountant in 2002 and has a business degree, majoring in accounting from AUT. Mark has worked in NZ, Australia and the UK and has held roles at NZ Post, Express Couriers and Chrisco before joining WorldxChange in 2008. Mark is a director and shareholder in WxC.

Mark is an avid golfer, lurking very near the single figure handicap. When he’s not keeping a watchful eye on WxC he can be found applying the same eye to the Akarana greens.

Mike Purchase Chief Operating Officer

As Chief Operating Officer, Mike has responsibility for the development and execution of WxC’'s strategy within the Corporate and Government segment and for leading the overall marketing programme for the business. Mike has a background in senior management positions in Sales, Marketing and Information Technology. He has been part of the senior management team for CourierPost, Chubb NZ, Reuters NZ and Cogent Communications. Whilst at Telecom NZ, Mike was responsible for major accounts with over $180m per annum sitting within his team’s revenue portfolio. During the course of his career he has worked in South Africa, London, Sydney and Melbourne. Mike is responsible for WorldxChange corporate and government customers as well as major channels. Mike is a WxC shareholder.

A qualified commercial skipper, Mike'’s second home is aboard Auckland Coastguard Rescue vessels where he volunteers most weekends as Search and Rescue crew.

Paul Clarkin Chief Technology Officer

Paul’'s role as CTO means he has overall accountability for the company’'s ICT, operational, and regulatory strategies and for the deployment and management of all aspects of WxC's technology and platform solutions.
Paul has 30 years experience in designing, building and managing complex telecommunications networks and IT solutions around the world and during his career has worked for NZ Defence (RNZ Corps of Signals), OTC, Telstra International and was part of the original startup team for Telstra New Zealand. As a founding and current majority shareholder of WxC, Paul has been a significant contributor to the creation and success of the WxC business since joining in 1997 as the original Operations Manager.


Paul is a member of the WxC Board and also a director of the company.
When Paul isn'’t coming up with new products for WxC, he spends his spare time working on his cars and micro-brewery.

Phillip Moore General Manager - Operations

Phillip is responsible for the day to day network operations of the company, has 30 years of experience within the telecommunications industry and has been instrumental in developing the company's VOIP network strategy and deployment.
Recognised as a subject matter expert in SIP technology and FTTH deployments, Phillip works with best of breed manufacturers such as Cisco, Genband, AcmePacket and Broadsoft in the development of their products. Phillip's career started as a Telecommunications Technician in the New Zealand Army where he was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 1992 New Years Honors list for his expertise in installing and running a major part of the United Nations Telecommunications Network in Cambodia.

When not spending his time making sure everything is running at WxC or testing the latest piece of SIP technology, Phillip can be found at movie theatres with his wife. A passionate Cantab sports fan, Phillip will follow anything in Red and Black and is also a shareholder in WxC.

Brett Thomson General Manager - Planning

Brett is a Telecommunications Engineer with more than 25 years of experience in designing, building and managing complex networks. During his career he has worked for NZ Defence (RNZ Corps of Signals), Elliot Bros Audio Systems (UK), design/build/project management of professional audio recording and broadcast facilities primarily for the BBC, and technical and Project Management roles with Telecom Mobile Radio, Telecom Cellular and Ericsson. Brett joined WorldxChange in 1997 as a Network Engineer and has played a key part in the evolution of the WxC network to where it is today. He also wears an industry relations/regulatory hat and is a regular contributor to industry forums from a technical, strategic and governance point of view.

Brett is a shareholder in WxC and when away from the office, he does non-work stuff...

Kevin O'Shaughnessy General Manager - Facilities

Kevin joined WorldxChange in 2006 and as Facilities Manager he is responsible for maintaining a close relationship with the National and International Carriers and Resellers of the business dealing predominately with contracts and rates. Kevin has over thirty years experience in the telecommunications industry which commenced with 20 years of service in the Military (RNZ Corp of Signals) followed by 6 years at Telecom New Zealand and he is also a shareholder in WxC.

Kevin loves spending his spare time in the company of friends and family. He is a keen rugby follower and enjoys dabbling in anything from Demo Derbies to golf.