Nicola Ede

Senior Product Owner | Portfolio Manager | Large scale complex product delivery | FCA compliance

Windsor, England, United Kingdom

About

- Senior Leadership: Extensive experience in the Mobile Telecommunications sector, most recently as Head of Mobile Products at Vodafone, leading a multi-skilled team. - Product Strategy & Roadmap Ownership: Proven track record in owning end-to-end product roadmaps and delivering large-scale transformations, including a 2-year eSIM programme. - Regulatory & Risk Expertise: Specialist in FCA compliance, particularly for insurance and loan products, with a history of embedding governance frameworks - Commercial & Portfolio Management: Expert in category planning & management, driving significant YoY growth in hardware and accessories at O2. - Operational Transformation: Experienced in optimizing customer journeys and internal processes to improve efficiency, reduce complaints, and secure multi-million-pound capital investments.

Experience

  • Vodafone (5 yrs 9 mos)
    • Head of Mobile Products & Services
      Mar 2021 - Apr 2026 · 5 yrs 2 mos

      Leading a team of 10 product managers across regulated product (insurance & loans), connectivity products (eSIM & OneNumber) and Device quality/accreditation. Setting strategy, Capex management, product improvement, customer journey & experience enhancement, supporting commercial performance. • Delivered a large scale, 2-year insurance programme, addressing identified compliance and customer experience gaps, preventing regulator intervention • Secured funding and led a multi-million-pound programme enabling a best-in-class experience eSIM experience across all channels, partners & products. • Drove end to end customer experience transformation, reviewing all customer journeys and agent touchpoints, resulting in increased adoption, reduced complaints, and improved agent confidence. • Led teams through organisational transformation, maintaining delivery momentum and engagement • Established high performing, cross functional teams, embedding regulatory compliance and significant product improvement

    • Head of Device Operations (Interim)
      Aug 2020 - Nov 2021 · 1 yr 4 mos

      Covering hardware portfolio management, commercial vendor relationships & negotiations and device marketing. Ensured the best range of devices at the best prices are marketed to customers to drive maximum connections and value for Vodafone.

    • Head of Fixed Products (Interim)
      Nov 2020 - Apr 2021 · 6 mos

      Leading product development on key Home Broadband & Security product launches.

  • Consultant at Certus Advisory Ltd
    Mar 2020 - Apr 2020 · 2 mos

    Certus is business service consultancy covering multiple business areas, pulling in subject matter experts to deliver tailored solutions for their clients. • Fixed term contract working with a client exploring the possibility of becoming a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). • Delivered a supplier strategy, portfolio recommendation and logistics proposal.

  • O2 (Telefónica UK) (Slough · On-site)
    • Head of Portfolio/ Senior Portfolio Manager
      Feb 2012 - Feb 2020 · 8 yrs 1 mo

      O2 spent over £1Billion on devices each year and I led the team who ensure customers have the absolute best range of handsets, tablets, accessories and wearables available to them. • Shaped and optimised product portfolios based on market insights, customer requirements, and supplier expertise • Negotiated exclusive deals, products, and colour variants to differentiate O2 in the market. • Identified and capitalised on market trends by partnering with emerging brands (OnePlus, Huawei, Oppo) • Developed and implemented strategic category plans for key hardware segments, increasing device sales in all categories

    • Senior Launch Manager
      Jan 2011 - Jan 2012 · 1 yr 1 mo

      I set up and ran a team to manage all go-to-market activity for all mobile devices. Working cross-functionally with commercial teams, supply chain, technical, marketing, and customer care teams • Defined and implemented new standardised processes for device launches, ensuring consistency and efficiency • Achieved a reduction in time taken to bring products to market and secured broad organisational buy-in for the new processes. • Worked closely with key stakeholders throughout the business to ensure all pre-launch requirements were addressed.

    • Senior Product Manager
      Apr 2008 - Dec 2010 · 2 yrs 9 mos

      Full product ownership for the O2 Joggler – an innovative family centric product for the home that was part of a much bigger O2 programme to attract families to O2. • Managed full product development lifecycle, including RFP/Q process, vendor selection, contractual negotiations, product testing, packaging design, and launch across multiple channels. • Gathered and utilised market insights to define product requirements and collaborated with suppliers to develop hardware and proprietary applications.

  • Head of Virtual Manufacturing at Data Select
    Mar 2006 - Mar 2008 · 2 yrs 1 mo

    Data Select is a UK based distributor, providing procurement, logistics & warehousing services to the mobile telecommunications sector. I led the “Virtual manufacturing” team, sourcing mobile phones based on requirements from key customers (notably Virgin Mobile, Asda and Argos). • Managed end-to-end supply including product sourcing, specification, technical requirements, contractual negotiations, packaging design, importation into the UK, and aftersales support. • Collaborated with a sales team to coordinate sell-in activities, producing sales and product marketing materials for customers and prospects. • Achieved significant sales success with the Virgin Mobile “Lobster” sub-brand, sourcing and selling over 100,000 units annually.

  • Senior Product Manager at Orange
    Feb 2003 - Feb 2006 · 3 yrs 1 mo

    Working as part of the Devices team, I was responsible for the portfolio of products for Orange Business customers. • Owner the devices portfolio for Business customers, tailoring products to meet specific needs, launching more than 50 devices • Formulated and executed a supplier strategy, collaborating closely with Siemens Mobile, which delivered an 18% uplift on their share of the Orange business