Ecotalk is a fast-growing UK Mobile Virtual Network Operator with a strong purpose-led proposition and an established consumer customer base. Following a period of significant growth and commercial development, the business is entering its next stage. Our priorities are to continue scaling the consumer business, accelerate B2B growth, strengthen commercial performance and build on the progress already achieved towards sustainable profitability. We are looking for an experienced, commercially driven Chief Executive Officer to lead Ecotalk through this next phase of growth. The Chief Executive Officer will be responsible for the leadership, performance and day-to-day executive management of Ecotalk. Working closely with the Group CEO, the Ecotalk leadership team and existing strategic commercial support, the CEO will be accountable for delivery of the agreed business plan, P&L performance, growth and operational execution. A major priority will be accelerating commercial growth, particularly B2B, sales and strategic partnerships, while continuing to develop the core consumer business.
The successful candidate will combine strong commercial leadership with an entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to operate effectively within a relatively lean, fast-moving organisation.
This role has an office requirement in Stroud, Gloucestershire, for a minimum of 4 days a week.
Core responsibilities:
Business Leadership & Strategy
- Lead the day-to-day executive management of Ecotalk and provide clear direction to the wider team.
- Develop and execute Ecotalk’s business plan in conjunction with the Group CEO and wider strategic leadership
- Translate agreed strategic priorities into measurable commercial and operational plans.
- Drive continued growth, improved financial performance and sustainable profitability.
- Identify new growth opportunities across consumer, B2B, partnerships and adjacent channels.
- Ensure Ecotalk remains well positioned within the evolving UK telecoms and MVNO market.
- Provide clear and regular reporting on performance, priorities, opportunities and risks.
Commercial Growth & B2B
- Take direct executive ownership of Ecotalk’s sales and commercial growth agenda
- Accelerate development of the B2B proposition and establish B2B as a meaningful and sustainable revenue stream
- Build, manage and convert a strong B2B sales pipeline.
- Develop new routes to market, channel partnerships and commercial opportunities.
- Build the commercial capability required to support the next stage of Ecotalk’s growth.
- Ensure effective sales processes, pipeline management, forecasting and accountability.
- Review propositions, pricing and channel performance to maximise revenue, margin and customer value.
- Work closely with marketing to improve acquisition effectiveness and return on investment.
Financial & Performance Management
- Take executive accountability for delivery of Ecotalk’s agreed P&L, budget and business plan.
- Deliver continued revenue growth, margin improvement and progress in profitability.
- Develop budgets, forecasts and commercial plans in conjunction with Group finance and Group leadership.
- Establish and manage clear KPIs covering revenue, subscribers, margin, acquisition, retention, B2B, customer experience and operational performance.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, commercial returns and cost management.
- Ensure decisions are supported by appropriate financial and performance analysis.
Operational Leadership
- Ensure Ecotalk operates effectively, efficiently and with consistently high levels of customer service.
- Lead and develop the Ecotalk management team while empowering functional leaders to take ownership of day-to-day delivery.
- Maintain clear accountability across customer service, marketing, sales, product and operational activity.
- Ensure processes, systems and organisational capability develop appropriately as the business scales.
- Maintain a strong performance culture across the organisation.
- Ensure key operational and regulatory risks are properly identified and managed.
People & Leadership Development
- Lead, motivate and develop the Ecotalk team.
- Build greater accountability throughout the organisation and ensure clear ownership of key objectives.
- Support the continued development of existing leadership capability within Ecotalk.
- Recruit additional capability where required, with particular focus on sales, business development and other areas directly supporting growth and profitability.
- Foster an entrepreneurial, commercial, customer-focused and accountable culture.
- Ensure the organisation remains appropriately structured and resourced as the business grows.
Strategic Suppliers & Commercial Relationships
- Maintain effective executive relationships with Ecotalk’s principal suppliers and strategic partners.
- Work closely with the Group CEO and existing strategic commercial support on significant supplier relationships, commercial negotiations and strategic reviews.
- Ensure day-to-day supplier performance is effectively managed and contractual obligations are understood and delivered.
- Contribute to reviews of network, wholesale, technology and operating arrangements as required.
- Support the evaluation of alternative suppliers, commercial models or strategic options where these could materially improve Ecotalk’s economics, capability or resilience.
- Ensure strategic supplier decisions are aligned with the wider Group’s commercial objectives.
Partnerships & Strategic Opportunities
- Identify and develop partnerships capable of accelerating Ecotalk’s commercial growth.
- Lead execution of partnership opportunities relevant to Ecotalk’s consumer and B2B strategy.
- Work with Group leadership and existing strategic commercial support on major or Group-level commercial opportunities.
- Ensure partnerships have clear commercial objectives and measurable outcomes.
- Represent Ecotalk credibly with prospective customers, partners and other external stakeholders.
Governance & Stakeholder Management
- Act as the senior day-to-day executive leader of Ecotalk.
- Work closely with the Group CEO and relevant Group stakeholders.
- Operate effectively within the Group governance and decision-making framework.
- Ensure appropriate regulatory compliance, risk management and financial control.
- Present clearly and credibly at senior stakeholder and board level.
- Escalate material strategic, financial or commercial decisions appropriately.
Essential skills:
Key Requirements Leadership Experience
- Significant senior leadership experience within telecommunications, mobile, technology, subscription services or another relevant commercial environment.
- Previous experience operating at CEO, Managing Director, General Manager or equivalent senior executive level.
- Demonstrable experience leading and scaling a growing business or business unit.
- Strong record of turning strategy into measurable commercial execution.
- Experience operating successfully within a lean, entrepreneurial environment.
Commercial & B2B Capability
- Strong track record in sales, business development and commercial growth.
- Demonstrable experience building and converting B2B opportunities.
- Experience developing new revenue streams, partnerships and routes to market.
- Strong understanding of pricing, proposition development and commercial performance.
- Comfortable personally driving significant commercial opportunities when required.
- Able to build strong commercial discipline throughout an organisation.
Telecoms & Market Knowledge
- Strong understanding of telecommunications, mobile or a closely related subscription market.
- Direct MVNO experience would be highly advantageous but is not essential for an exceptional candidate with relevant transferable experience.
- Understanding of wholesale, network, technology and supplier relationships within a service-led business would be beneficial.
- Awareness of the regulatory and competitive environment affecting UK mobile services.
Financial Acumen
- Proven P&L responsibility.
- Strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting, margin management and investment decisions.
- Able to use management information and commercial data to drive decisions.
- Strong focus on profitability, cash, return on investment and disciplined growth.
Leadership Style
- Commercially ambitious and entrepreneurial.
- Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
- Comfortable working both strategically and hands-on when required.
- Collaborative and able to operate successfully alongside Group leadership and specialist strategic support.
- Able to develop existing people rather than automatically building additional management layers.
- Pragmatic, decisive and comfortable operating without unnecessary corporate infrastructure.
- Strong communicator with credibility at employee, partner, customer and board level.
What We Offer
- The opportunity to lead a high-growth challenger brand through an important stage of its development.
- Significant responsibility for the commercial and operational development of Ecotalk.
- An established business with strong momentum and further growth potential.
- The opportunity to scale B2B alongside an established consumer proposition.
- An experienced Group and strategic support structure around the business.
- Salary with a performance-related package.
- A collaborative, entrepreneurial and purpose-led working environment.
What’s in it for you…
- Healthcare plan, life assurance and generous pension contribution
- Volunteering Day
- Hybrid Working
- Various company discounts (including shops, gyms, days out and events)
- Holiday of 25 days (plus bank holidays) & ability to buy/sell days
- Cycle to work scheme, car pooling and onsite parking available
As a valued member of the team, you will be supporting the Group Environmental Policy and its associated sustainability objectives and targets.
Flexibility Statement
The fast moving nature of the business means that from time to time you may be asked to perform duties or tasks outside of your original job description on an ad hoc basis. This allows the company to utilise our people in the best possible way at all times and helps our colleagues to make the best contribution in a changing environment.
Ecotricity is Britain’s overall greenest energy company- it’s more than just green energy – the breadth and depth of our work on green issues is unmatched. When we started back in 1995, we were the first company in the world to provide a new kind of electricity – the green kind.
Our mission was, and remains, to change the way energy is made and used in Britain – by replacing fossil fuels with clean, renewable energy. We don’t just supply green energy, we use the money from our customers’ bills to make it ourselves too – we have built windmills and sun parks in Britain.
We call this turning ‘bills into mills’. We don’t just focus on energy though- we built the Electric Highway, Britain’s leading network of electric vehicle charging points; we helped Forest Green Rovers become the greenest football club in the world; and we launched Britain’s greenest mobile phone service, Ecotalk, where we use the money from our customers’ bills to protect and regenerate Britain’s lost rainforests.
Ecotricity is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to providing equality for all.
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Stroud GL5 3BY: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
