Vodafone you've done it again - John Reader (johnr) is leaving

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › Vodafone you've done it again - John Reader (johnr) is leaving

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networkn

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#1720007 14-Feb-2017 13:35

michaelmurfy:

It'll be the same fate as somebody else I know who worked for Vodafone. Get made redundant, get asked back as a contractor with more dollars because they can't survive without you. Beancounters don't know technology.

Heh, it sits in a different cost center and isn't the issue for the original beancounter who doesn't look after that cost center.

Coil

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#1720020 14-Feb-2017 13:58

All good things come to an end, We all appreciate your years of service John. I also appreciate all the knowledge you have passed onto me from my time at VF!
Lets hope the redundancy pay out is going to send you around the world a few times or another Ducati will find its way into the garage :)

Cheers mate.

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#1720052 14-Feb-2017 14:56

That is really bad, although I'm not surprised - I saw this at Telstra Clear and it looks like Vodafone picked up a lot of their "good" business practices. Sorry to hear you're going John - thank you for all your help over the years.

I fear that if the outsourcing of his team was as well implemented as their customer call centre in Manila, well...it almost feels like they're re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

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#1720066 14-Feb-2017 15:22

quickymart:

That is really bad, although I'm not surprised - I saw this at Telstra Clear and it looks like Vodafone picked up a lot of their "good" business practices. Sorry to hear you're going John - thank you for all your help over the years.

I fear that if the outsourcing of his team was as well implemented as their customer call centre in Manila, well...it almost feels like they're re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

It almost feels like they are pouring lead into the Titanic.. Well it looks like they are.

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#1720087 14-Feb-2017 15:47

I found him really helpful many years ago when I had a problem with data usage. So sure he has helped hundreds, if not thousands of people over that time. It is sad to see big companies getting rid of staff, although we don't know the full story, and maybe it means he can move onto something better. I don't think he is on here anymore, so not sure if he is reading this.

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#1720135 14-Feb-2017 17:03

mattwnz:

I found him really helpful many years ago when I had a problem with data usage. So sure he has helped hundreds, if not thousands of people over that time. It is sad to see big companies getting rid of staff, although we don't know the full story, and maybe it means he can move onto something better. I don't think he is on here anymore, so not sure if he is reading this.

Dont worry, He will see all our comments :)

Im sure he is flattered by all of your guys replies made through this thread, Its great to see!

Some may recall he was our resident IT super hero one year so yes, He has helped many many people.

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#1720297 14-Feb-2017 22:47

Was sad to hear this. End of an era.

Back in the day when I started at TelstraClear, John was already a legend and Voda's name was better in the industry for it. When I moved over to Voda with the TCL acquisition, it was a real pleasure to work with him and see the crazy dedication he brought to everything he did. The man was a machine, and would leave no customer unaided, even if he was on holiday halfway across the world. John's passion puts my own to shame. He tells it like it is and shares everything he can, and the public NZ telco space became a better and more informative place for it. That's the wonderful thing about Geekzone, it's a mixing pot of Joe Bloggs end users and Expert Bloggs industry insiders. Whether it's those end users or the corporates themselves being unreasonable, they'll be called to task for it.

While I'm certain there will be engineering teams galore who'll be bashing down HR's door to convince them to take a crack at snagging the man for their teams, I hope John gets the break he deserves after seventeen years(!) of doing his thing for big red.

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#1720822 15-Feb-2017 20:13

Wish you all the best in you future endeavors Johnr

that would be an ecumenical matter

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#1720849 15-Feb-2017 20:59

All the best John. You were always a great source of help and were single-handled responsible from stopping me from quitting vodafone in a huff at least twice.

Apropos of nothing, I've been enjoying the Secret Footballer, an ex premier league footballer lifting the lid on some of the things that goes on in the life of a pro footballer. Hypothetically, I wonder what a book by the "Secret Network Engineer" would cover?

thecatsgoolies

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#1720885 15-Feb-2017 21:50

NikT:

Was sad to hear this. End of an era.

Back in the day when I started at TelstraClear, John was already a legend and Voda's name was better in the industry for it. When I moved over to Voda with the TCL acquisition, it was a real pleasure to work with him and see the crazy dedication he brought to everything he did. The man was a machine, and would leave no customer unaided, even if he was on holiday halfway across the world. John's passion puts my own to shame. He tells it like it is and shares everything he can, and the public NZ telco space became a better and more informative place for it. That's the wonderful thing about Geekzone, it's a mixing pot of Joe Bloggs end users and Expert Bloggs industry insiders. Whether it's those end users or the corporates themselves being unreasonable, they'll be called to task for it.

While I'm certain there will be engineering teams galore who'll be bashing down HR's door to convince them to take a crack at snagging the man for their teams, I hope John gets the break he deserves after seventeen years(!) of doing his thing for big red.

Very well said Nik. You hit the nail on the head! It was sad when JohnR left the forum due to others expectations around his advise, not realising just how much his input was his own, rather than Vodafone's. You really can't put a value on his knowledge and willingness to help others. Sadly there are not many left within Vodafone who are willing to go that extra mile any longer. You just need to look on their community and see how much of this is missing.

John will do well when he is snapped up by others who do value his worth and see how he can contribute to any organisation be it big or small!

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#1721251 16-Feb-2017 13:47

All the best for the future JohnR. I know I have asked for your help on one occasion on here and as others here have said Voda are losing a great man

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#1721361 16-Feb-2017 15:29

Have Fun JohnR,

You get comfortable in a role you have been in for a long while; moving on opens up a whole world of things you wanted to do but never thought of pushing the button on.

Look up, look around and breath the fresh air of new opportunities, always remember people of your talent don't grown on trees I'm sure you will be swamped with options :).

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