Verizon is creating a new home for all of its prepaid and value brands. Called Verizon Value, the organization will be part of the company’s Consumer Group, and will be headed by Angie Klein, who will become SVP and President of Verizon Value starting January 1, 2023.
As the SVP of Verizon Value, Klein will oversee Verizon’s newly acquired TracFone business and the company’s many different prepaid and value brands including StraightTalk, Safelink, Total Wireless and more.
“This is the next step in the evolution of our strategy to better serve 23 million subscribers within the value market,” said Manon Brouillette, EVP and Group CEO of Verizon Consumer Group.
Klein, who will report to Brouillette, will be charged with developing a cohesive strategy and streamlining the company’s prepaid business while still catering to the needs of the different customer groups that these prepaid brands currently serve.
Last month, the National Wireless Independent Dealer Association (NWIDA) reported that dealers for Page Plus, Net10 and GoSmart were being told that new customers couldn’t be added to those brands as of November. However, a Tracfone representative said that wasn’t true and customers will be able to buy plans for Net10, Page Plus and GoSmart brands until November 2024, with California customers getting until November 2026 to purchase them. This is part of an FCC mandate that the company must meet because of its acquisition of Tracfone.
Nevertheless, although Verizon will continue to keep those brands around for the next few years, it’s like the company will cull the number of prepaid brands it currently operates to make it more manageable.
Klein is 19-year veteran of Verizon. Currently she is the chief revenue officer of TracFone and Verizon Prepaid as well as the CEO of Visible. Prior to her current role, she served as SVP of Consumer Segment Marketing where she helped develop pricing plans for Verizon’s consumer postpaid and prepaid businesses as well as the company’s consumer-focused Fios and the 5G Home offerings. She has also worked in product development and brand strategy, as well as in the company’s call center and retail operations.