SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of May 2003 Commission File Number 1-8481
----------
BCE Inc.
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
1000, rue de La Gauchetiere Ouest, Bureau 3700, Montreal, Quebec H3B 4Y7,
(514) 397-7000
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F Form 40-F X
----------- -----------
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No X
----------- -----------
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the Registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- .
-----------
Notwithstanding any reference to BCE's Web site on the World Wide Web in the
documents attached hereto, the information contained in BCE's site or any other
site on the World Wide Web referred to in BCE's site is not a part of this Form
6-K and, therefore, is not filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
BCE and Bell Canada simplify operations
- Bell creates divisions for consumer, large enterprise and
small/medium businesses
- Operations integrated to create single point of contact for
customers
- Staff functions consolidated at BCE and Bell
MONTREAL, May 7 /CNW Telbec/ - Michael Sabia, Chief Executive Officer of
Bell Canada and BCE Inc., today announced a new business structure that
simplifies Bell's operations by creating business divisions that reflect the
three major customer segments it serves and integrates the corporate functions
of BCE and Bell.
"Our goals are clear - to differentiate ourselves in the market place by
building a Bell Canada that is a powerhouse of performance, product and service
innovation, is simple to deal with, and has the highest productivity in the
industry," said Mr. Sabia. "That's how we're going to win in a highly
competitive market. That's how we're going to bring value to our customers and
earn the right to be their communications supplier of choice."
Effective June 1st, Bell Canada will create three customer segments to
replace its current structure:
- The Consumer Markets Group will include Bell's residential wireline
service, its Mobility services, its ExpressVu satellite T.V. service,
its Sympatico Internet services and its retail operations.
- The Small and Medium Business Division creates a unit which is totally
dedicated to this customer segment.
- The Enterprise Division will focus on large business customers,
governments and institutions.
The Consumer Markets Group will be led by Pierre Blouin, Group President.
The Business Markets Group will be led by John Sheridan, Group President and
will include Karen Sheriff, President, Small and Medium Business and Isabelle
Courville, President, Enterprise.
(Editor's Note: For further information on the new organization,
including an organizational chart, go to www.bce.ca/en/announcement .)
"Our customers want sophisticated, integrated solutions from a company that
has leading-edge products and services, is reliable and is simple to deal with,"
said Mr. Sabia. "Our new structure moves us in this direction. It will
facilitate our ability to provide customers a full range of communications
services through a single point of contact."
The company will carefully transition to this new structure in the coming
weeks in order to ensure there is no impact on customers or service levels.
Business customers will, for the most part, continue to be served by their
regular sales representatives.
Mr. Sabia went on to say that Bell will move towards taking a more
integrated approach to managing its IS/IT, Technology, Network Operations and
Productivity Initiatives. "We must continue to raise the bar on our customer
services levels and our productivity accomplishments. We will achieve better
performance in these areas by aligning all of our technological resources around
a clear business purpose."
The integration of functions between BCE and Bell will move BCE closer to
the operations and challenges of its core asset. It will also serve to simplify
BCE's structure, helping investors better understand the company's focus going
forward.
"A year ago we embarked on a plan to bring greater focus to the organization
and simplify Bell. We addressed the uncertainties BCE was facing. We regained
full control of Bell Canada. We strengthened the balance sheet. We implemented
financial discipline. We are now implementing our plans to simplify Bell Canada
to build stronger relationships with our 25 million customer connections. Our
attention is on our core operations at Bell Canada and our intent is nothing
short of making a strong, Canadian Bell Canada the best communications company
in North America," concluded Mr. Sabia.
About BCE
BCE is Canada's largest communications company. It has 25 million customer
connections through the wireline, wireless, data/Internet and satellite services
it provides, largely under the Bell brand. BCE's media interests are held by
Bell Globemedia, including CTV and The Globe and Mail. As well, BCE has
e-commerce capabilities provided under the BCE Emergis brand. BCE shares are
listed in Canada, the United States and Europe.
About Bell Canada
Bell Canada, Canada's national leader in communications, provides
connectivity to residential and business customers through wired and wireless
voice and data communications, local and long distance phone services, high
speed and wireless Internet access, IP-broadband services, e-business solutions
and direct-to-home satellite service. Bell Canada is wholly owned by BCE Inc.
For more information please visit www.bell.ca .
Call with the Media:
BCE will hold a teleconference for media on Wednesday, May 7, 2003 at 11:00
a.m. (Eastern). Michael Sabia, Chief Executive Officer of BCE and Bell Canada,
will be present for the teleconference. Interested participants are asked to
dial (877) 793-3795 between 10:50 a.m. and 10:58 a.m. If you are disconnected
from the call, simply redial the number. If you need assistance during the
teleconference, you can reach the operator by pressing "0". This teleconference
will also be Webcast live (audio only) on our Web site at www.bce.ca . The
Webcast will be archived on our Web site.
Caution concerning forward-looking statements
Certain statements made in this press release are forward-looking and are
subject to important risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The results or events
predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual
results or events. Factors that could cause results or events to differ
materially from current expectations include, among other things: the ability of
BCE Inc.'s and Bell Canada's strategies to produce the expected benefits and
growth prospects; general economic conditions, the level of consumer confidence
and spending and the state of capital markets; the impact of adverse regulatory
initiatives or proceedings; the level of demand, including in particular by the
enterprise sector, and prices, for Bell Canada's products and services; BCE
Inc.'s and Bell Canada's ability to manage costs, generate productivity
improvements and decrease capital intensity while maintaining quality of
service; the intensity of competitive activity, from both traditional and new
competitors, and its resulting impact on the ability to retain existing, and
attract new, customers, and the consequent impact on pricing strategies,
revenues and net income; and the ability to deploy new technologies and offer
new products and services rapidly and achieve market acceptance thereof.
For additional information with respect to certain of these and other
factors, refer to BCE Inc.'s First Quarter 2003 Management's Discussion and
Analysis filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, under Form 6-
K, and with the Canadian securities commissions. The forward-looking statements
contained in this press release represent the expectations of BCE Inc. and Bell
Canada as of May 7, 2003 and, accordingly, are subject to change after such
date. However, BCE Inc. and Bell Canada disclaim any obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Executive profiles
Pierre J. Blouin will become Group President, Consumer Markets, Bell Canada
effective June 1, 2003. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of BCE
Emergis Inc. where he led the company to profitability through an exhaustive
review of its operations and strategy. He has also served as President and CEO
of Bell Mobility. Prior to joining Bell Mobility, he held several executive
positions within the BCE family, including Executive Vice- President of BCE. He
holds a degree from Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (affiliated with the
Universite de Montreal) and is a Fellow of the Canadian Bankers Institute. Mr.
Blouin was recognized as one of the Top 40 Canadians under 40 by the Financial
Post Magazine in 1998 and also earned the "releve de l'excellence" award from
Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales' in 1989.
Note to Editor: Download Mr. Blouin's photograph at
www.bce.ca/en/announcement.
Isabelle Courville will become President, Enterprise, Bell Canada effective
June 1, 2003. She is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Bell
Nordiq Group Inc., administrator of the Bell Nordiq Income Fund. She also leads
the business and affairs of Telebec, LP and NorthernTel, LP. She has held
various positions at Bell Canada including Senior Vice-President, Supply Chain
and Capital Management, where she administered Bell's capital program and its
procurement and supply chain activities. She is a graduate from the Ecole
Polytechnique de Montreal and from McGill University. Ms. Courville is a member
of the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec, the Barreau du Quebec and the Canadian
Bar Association.
Note to Editor: Download Ms. Courville's photograph at
www.bce.ca/en/announcement.
Karen H. Sheriff will become President, Small and Medium Business, Bell
Canada effective June 1, 2003. She is currently Chief Marketing Officer for
Bell Canada where she has successfully refocused Bell's marketing to prepare
for the future growth of key customer segments. Ms. Sheriff joined Bell Canada
in May 1999 as Senior Vice President of Product Management/Development.
Previously, Ms. Sheriff was responsible for corporate marketing and branding
at Ameritech Inc. Ms. Sheriff holds a bachelor's degree in psychology,
economics and mathematics from Washington University in St. Louis. and has a
master's degree in business administration from the University of Chicago.
Note to Editor: Download Ms. Sheriff's photograph at
www.bce.ca/en/announcement.
May 7, 2003
Background information
BELL CANADA
Key Priorities by Unit
Consumer Markets
Pierre Blouin, Group President
- Quickly bring-to-market integrated, simple solutions - Simplify customers'
interface with Bell to increase efficiency and
improve service
- Implement strategy for the complete "broadband home"
Business Markets
John Sheridan, Group President
- Synchronize Bell's approach to business customers nationally -
Revitalize offering for large enterprises while managing strategic
partnerships
- Build base for the growing small and mid-sized business segment -
Improve service across Customer Operations
Enterprise
Isabelle Courville, President
- Strengthen value-added service offerings - Align sales force to better
serve key customer segments - Integrate currently separate units to create
one customer-facing
unit
Small & Mid-Sized Business
Karen Sheriff, President
- Realign sales effort to better serve customers with Bell's full
capabilities
- Deliver solutions to meet needs of this growing segment - Simplify
customer interaction with better internal processes
Bell Systems & Technology
Eugene Roman, Group President
- Drive to a new level of productivity at Bell - Develop plan for migration
to more flexible IP-based network - Capitalize on emerging technologies
while maximizing efficiency of
existing assets
Corporate Centre
Stephen Wetmore, Chief Corporate Officer
- Establish a unity of direction throughout Bell - drive out
bureaucracy
- Drive enhanced levels of capital efficiency
- Continue to build Bell brand
-30-
For further information: Don Doucette, Communications, (514) 786-3924;
George Walker, Investor Relations, (514) 870-2488, Web site: www.bce.ca
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BCE Inc.
(Signed Michael T. Boychuk)
-----------------------------------------------------
Michael T. Boychuk
Senior Vice-President and Corporate Treasurer
Date: May 7, 2003