News
GFG Customer Conference 'on target'
15 December 2004 / Media Release
More than 30 customers from around the world gathered for GFG's inaugural Customer Conference, held in New Zealand during November. Conference highlights included speakers from Smart Communications and ASB Bank, plus the roll out of product road maps for GFG:UniCARD and GFG:Mobile.
Particularly impressive, according to user feedback, were the presentations from Dan Ibarra of the Philippines' Smart Communications, and Clayton Wakefield, CIO of New Zealand's ASB Bank, the foundation Cadencie customer.
GFG Group's chief executive, Anthony Howard, said the customer conference achieved its three main objectives: to roll out the new GFG brand and company strategy to major users, to give users detailed insight into product direction, and to get feedback from users on market trends as well as GFG's products and services.
"It really was fantastic to gather customers together for the first time. We were pleased that GFG's emphasis on sales and marketing as well as product research and development was so well understood by customers.
"We're determined to up our sales and marketing game and increase our scale and momentum - without losing the client intimacy that we are known for. Customers appreciated the strategic thinking behind that," Howard said.
And there must be something about the Philippines: the steely-eyed Myla Resurreccion (left), senior assistant vice president of Banco de Oro's credit card group, became a GFG legend after destroying every target during the clay pigeon shoot. Almost as good was Oliver Ubalde (right) from Smart Communications.
Sample feedback from attendees:
"We were most impressed with the strategy and new direction. It was great to meet with other users, with colleagues and vendors and have the opportunity for breakout discussions."
"A great job for a 1st conference - notable speakers that can influence our future."
"Transition from an IT Company to a Sales / Marketing and IT company appears to be going well - good work GFG!"
"Whatever GFG are doing to manage their internal change process must be working well because all GFG staff came across as positive about the future. That is very reassuring!"
