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Mobilicity CEO suddenly departs to “pursue other interests”
Wow – This is an incredible turn of events. We’re hearing rumours of Dave Dobbin, President and Chief Executive Officer of new entrant Mobilicity, has been dismissed from his position. He’s still listed on the company website, but apparently John Bitove, Mobilicity Chairman, says there are more changes on the horizon.
Developing…
Update: Press release just went out that says COO Stewart Lyons will be taking over as the new CEO. Plus, big news regarding subscriber numbers. Mobilicity is a private company and has never revealed their subscriber numbers – until now. A huge 250,000 customers have been “attracted” to Mobilicity, no word on how many are still with them. With 250,000 customers this puts them just behind WIND Mobile with 358,000, and ahead of Public Mobile who has over 150,000. Big news.
Mobilicity Announces Executive Transition
TORONTO, ON – November 18, 2011 – Mobilicity today announced the appointment of Stewart Lyons as President, replacing Dave Dobbin who is leaving the company to pursue other interests.
In his new role, Lyons will oversee the execution of Mobilicity’s strategy as it further transitions from launch to growth phase. Since launching service in Toronto in May of 2010, Mobilicity has attracted over 250,000 customers to join its service and has by far the highest ARPU among the startup new entrants.
Lyons, who was a founding member of Mobilicity’s management team, has played a significant role in driving Mobilicity’s strategy, customer service orientation and fundraising efforts. Lyons will continue to work closely with the executive management team and John Bitove, who is assuming the role of Executive Chairman, to drive the company forward.
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Sad to see. I really like Dave.
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and here goes phoneguy……or as we all like to refer to him as “f**kstain”….
let’s be clear….Dave was a fantastic face for Mobi, but in no way or by no means is this a statement of the company’s stability or reputation. The “top 40 under 40″ leader has passed the torch to another so he can continue to be in the “top 40 under 40″ with other interests.
Good luck Dave!!!!
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I am phoneguy and I am GAY
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someone has WAY too much time on their hands……
who ever said I worked for Mobilicity?
dummy. sit down.
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Having worked with Dave during the buildout in the west, he is not a nice person, he’s a real jerk. Didn’t treat people with respect when things didn’t go his way, didn’t understand the basic fundamentals of project management, was always rushing things when patients was required, and generally a not very smart person.
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BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
no…..not even close.
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drammmmmaaaaa
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So what now ? Less promotions ,better coverage,better speed?
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People get fired, people quit, companies move on. WIND survived, so will Mobilicity.
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250,000 customers. Not too bad.
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Perhaps one of the most down to earth CEO’s I’ve ever known. In the event these rumours are true, he will be missed. His company of which I’ve had the privilege to work for has been astounding and will continue to develop and provide affordable rates for everyone. Long live Mobilicity.
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As long as they keep the prices where they are! I don’t care who’s doing what! As far as I see it, mobi is our only real hope.
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Hopefully less meaningless** sales **and more meaningful coverage !!!
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Tis unfortuate. We will see less sales but there will probably be upgraded coverage
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250 000 have signed up!!! How many are still around ???
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Well.. if results are so great and everything is going so fine, why do you fire your CEO just before the busiest sales season? Anyway as a person interested in the industry I liked him, active and down to earth guy. Made too many strategic mistakes though.
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“Mobilicity has attracted over 250,000 customers” does not mean they have 250,000 subscribers … people sign up and than leave … they still count as “attracted”
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Wow this is a real blow. I liked dave’s style.
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Ported out
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So can anyone explain how they are still getting away with 3 yr contracts in canada?
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I wonder if he will keep Mobilicity phone.. Or maybe start working in Rogers, get a VP position or smth, and will leave Mobi in the ditch. That wouldn’t surprise me. Loudest doesn’t mean most loyal.
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Those are exactly the reasons why Mobilicity marketing kicked a*s, and more corporations should break down the walls and stop being afraid to be different.
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I dunno if you read that article entirely Mars, but one of the things the press statement claims is that they also have the highest ARPU (that’s average revenue per unit) of all the new entrants. Now if that is indeed true, that means they are more profitable than their competitors despite offering those rates. So your arguement doesn’t hold much water, unless you can prove somehow that they don’t actually have the highest ARPU.
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THERE IS A MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DAVE “LEAVING TO PURSUE OTHER INTERESTS” AND BEING FIRED… Sensationalizing your headline much?
The quote you have says Dave left on his own accord. Stop trying to be Reddit et al and sensationalize everything.
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AllanVS, they wont really announce “we fired dave” would they? This is a polite way of doing things
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Dave has a wonderful habit of driving companies straight in to the ground. Really seems to be good at it judging by his track record.
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Since I have worked for Mobilicity Dave Dobbin was and is the biggest A hole I have ever met. A belligerent condescending D bag who tried to bully and browbeat staff and vendors alike. Utterly and malicious in an endless assault on good people with many years in this industry. He should have been fired well over a year ago. What comes around goes around.
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I worked with Dobbin also but at another company and I echo your comments. He was a bully, sneaky and a liar. Threatened people repeatedly. Made highly inappropriate comments about female employees. I could go on and on. And don’t believe those high ARPU numbers. He has doctored data in the past to make himself look good.
It’s no coincidence that he does not stay more than a year or two anywhere. That’s how long it takes senior management to find out about him.
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It’s rarely a good sign to see a founder step in to replace the CEO.
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Just heard Blackberry lured him over to their Corporate team.
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It looks logical, he was pushing Mobi in great lengths towards BB’s, all the contests where given BB’s and so on, u maybe on the spot.
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Simply no experience in the big leagues a colossal failed dealer distribution strategy that should have seen Dobbin fired a year ago.
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Despite some negatives, it would be really great if the small 3 came together to take down the big 3….pool together all of their resources and they could dominate!
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I just seen him dancing out front of Rogers.
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I agree with AllanVS. If I wanted sensationalism, I’d read the Toronto Sun.
In all seriousness, it’s sad to see Dobbin go. That being said, here’s hoping Lyons will focus more on strengthening and expanding Mobilicity’s network.
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i’d really like to know what you’re basing any of your spewing on. really, besides bashing like a tabloid, can you back up any of your statements?
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but you didn’t, you just said you “could”…..
as i say to most bullsh*tters, sit down.
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You conveniently forgot that the GTA and Greater Montreal area are the largest urban centres in Canada. There’s roughly 10 million people in Public’s coverage area.
Mobilicity doesn’t have Montreal, and instead have Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton. Montreal’s population is roughly Vancouver + Calgary. Ottawa and Edmonton has roughly 1 million population each.
So Mobilicity has about a market of 2 million people greater than Public. In theory, 250k subscriber over around 12 million people market is higher than 150k in 10 million people market.
I suggest you work on your math a bit.
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Mobilicity has 142k subs as of this week when they launched their 50% off plans promotion this week, 3000 subs cancelled service and moved to the new plans. This allowed their dealer chain to get commission on the sale again. What a brilliant strategy.
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Pahech, you are right, however the cost of building the network per market , the spectrum and the daily operations per cities (sales, marketing, engineering) remains quite similar, thus Mobi could have built out massively in GTA and Vancouver and wait for other markets so they could ramp us cash and become profitable, now they are probably 3-6 months from death . I don’t know of anyone in the financial market that thinks they will be around as is in Q2 2012
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Jabronied!
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Mobilicity has no idea what a good CEO they have lost. You wouldn’t find another CEO that cares about their customer as much as Dave is. Dave’s attention to details is a rarity for a CEO. I am certain Dave will do well anywhere he goes. Gotten 250,000 subs in less than a year is a great result. Mobilicity, it is your BIG loss.
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TheCVDCF, please tell us why you’re so bu┬┬hurt and furious? Did Dave fuk your girlfriend?
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What a f****n loser. This is either LA or some loser just as big of a douchebag.
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Mobilicity’s subscriber numbers are quite impressive considering they launched 5 months after WIND and have a smaller coverage area.
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The Opus Hotel Vancouver is going to miss you Dave. At least the bar will. Absolute called there all out of Vodka. Remember Clown boy I hope he is doing a jig.
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The Five Dysfunctions of a Team little did we know he was the most dysfunctional of all. Enough said.
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It’s sad but I believe it’s not one man at fault, there are more who give advice and work under. Back up money is concern too and I hope he did his best but track to run was wrong. Everybody is good and try his best but if way of doing is wrong it’s not one person’s fault. Mr. Dave just advice for you please check around and believe only those when you see them working and have job done. I have sympathy and wish him good luck in future.
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Regardless what everyone says, I have never met a CEO in my life that was down to earth like Dave was, he would actually respond to people’s issues in person, and actively reply to anyone’s concerns. Had the chance to meet him last summer in one of his BBQs and he left a really good impression, took the time to talk and wasn’t a snob. Whenever people think of Mobilicity they will think of Dave, he was the company. Hopefully Stewart will live up to Dave’s status and keep moving the company in the right direction.
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It’s sad but it’s not one guy thing I think all his sorrounding’s also are wrong. He is great guy but he just mis managed and trust around his management and plus Back up is also very important financially.When network is not expanding means money trouble is somewhere and also idea of giving dealership was hard to manage. Good luck for Future.
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Mobilicity will be the first of these new companies to fail. Stewart Lyons is a douche bag. He is the creative force behind Mobilicity and all of there pathetic offers. He will run what’s left of this sad company into the ground. Mobilicity hasn’t had a strategic business plan since day one. They will be out of business by next summer. I really feel bad for all the dealers that were fooled into investing their life savings into a fly by night operation like Mobilicity.
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Just read Globe&Mail article about Wind.Says they would never launch if he had to do it again.Looks like Shaw will be able to go shopping sooner rather than later.
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Dave’s days have neen numbered for a while, with most pros guessing he’d last the New Year. His down fall? The booting subs debacle that has reared its ugly head recently & his attitude and arrogance during it all. It was too much of an embarrassment for Mobi to let continue.
For those he feels he wasn’t fired take a look at his Tweets that were completely pro Mobi up until around 3:00pm when they suddenly stop altogether. He dig his own grave and those who’ve watched the sad events of the last couple of weeks shouldn’t come as a surprise.
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I see why these companies don’t have 3 year contracts now. Because they might not be in business in 3 years.
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Ok confirmed by Financial Post Gross subs about 250K, NET SUBS 165K …
*Correction: In a company release, Mobilicity said it has “attracted” 250,000 customers to date, a figure that does not account for “churn”, or the number of subscribers who have left. Analyst estimates put the carrier’s present subscriber base at 165,000.
http://business.financialpost.com/2011/11/18/mobilicity-shakes-up-management/
This raises one question, would you really sign up with them in the next 3-4 months ?
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RoBetel The BIG 3 wat Mobilicty,Wind and whomever to just go away so they can continue to fuk us Canadians over.
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Well seems dave will not be working for us! Seems he wants to much money!! I am glad he is fired! Wind with is 500,000 subs and 5 billion in cash will buy all the spectrum they want! Wind should get special pricing since WE are the future!!!
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Just read the last part at the bottom this will show you how desperate and corrupted John Bitove is. RIP MOBI
Jamie Sturgeon Nov 18, 2011 – 5:36 PM ET | Last Updated: Nov 18, 2011 11:18 PM ET
Startup wireless provider Mobilicity has parted ways with chief executive Dave Dobbin, with the company announcing Friday chief operating officer Stewart Lyons has been appointed CEO.
Toronto entrepreneur and founding financier in the venture, John Bitove, is also assuming the role of executive chairman.
“We offer our thanks to Dave for his contributions through our initial launch phase,” said Mr. Bitove, whose Obelysk holding company has bankrolled the new carrier alongside U.S. investor Quadrangle Capital Partners.
The management shakeup arrives as new entrants to Canada’s $18-billion market struggle to win share against entrenched incumbents Rogers, Bell and Telus and each other.
Rival Wind Mobile replaced its CEO in June only to see its sales fall short in the third quarter.
Privately owned Mobilicity said it has won a quarter of million subscribers to date and “by far” the highest average revenue per subscriber (ARPU) among startup new entrants, which include Wind Mobile and Public Mobile Inc. The company did not disclose the figure.
[*Correction: In a company release, Mobilicity said it has "attracted" 250,000 customers to date, a figure that does not account for "churn", or the number of subscribers who have left. Analyst estimates put the carrier's present subscriber base at 165,000.]
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Dave was an awesome guy, and its sad to see him go!
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apparently the new guy (lyons) is cut from the same cloth. just another meathead, not sure why bitove doesn’t hire someone who could actually improve customer service instead of anthoer retread.
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You have to be kidding, Dave Dobbin was the worse CEO ever and a complete i***t, just like Mobilicity strictly full of hype and no substance. What do you expect from a company that only lies and treats their customers like crap. Lyons will be no better and our IT group are asking Subs to leave in protest against fanboys who are ruining opportunists for progress.
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“Help me Mobi-One. You’re my only hope.”
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Having worked for Dave in Ottawa at Telecom Ottawa I’m hardly shocked at this turn of events.. As usual the board of directors grows tired of his utter BS.
Dave, while a lovely guy to have a beer with, is completely full of $hit and mobilicity found this out out sooner than TOL or THT ever did.
Anyone who does read this should probably not expect his word to mean a damn thing unless they expect a dagger in their back.
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I worked with him at Ottawa, he’s a great guy. I don’t know what you’re talking about, can’t be the same Dave I worked for.
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