NBN Company: Industry welcomes business heavyweights

James Riley
Thursday, 06 August 2009 13:18

Business IT - Technology

Diane Smith-Gander was appointed on the strength of experience in financial, commercial and management consulting. Also a former McKinsey partner, Smith-Gartner was most recently head of Westpac’s Business & Technology Solutions & Services division.

The final appointee, Gene Tilbrook, is a former finance director the Australian-listed giant Wesfarmers and a specialist in corporate strategy and finance, acquisitions and large capital projects.

Based on the background of the five new directors, Paul Budde said government has the balance about right.

“Obviously we know Doug Campbell and he is a veteran of the telecommunications industry … and his appointment is welcomed,” Budde told iTWire.

“The other appointments tell me they are really going for management experience, and I think that’s a good choice. In order to get the project  off the ground you need some clear strategic leader rather than straight-forward technical leadership,” he said. “That’s my interpretation – that they are going for strategic rather than just telecoms expertise.”

The five new directors replace five interim irectors – drawn from the public sector – who held the positions for the short-time since the NBN Company was set up.

Government has allowed itself some flexibility in the composition of the board. The NBN Company constitution allows for a maximum of nine directors – allowing room for further appointments as required.

New appointments could be needed if existing carriers opt to tip their existing assets into the NBN Company in return for assets. But it would also enable the appointment of specific carrier expertise as required.

Broadband service provider Primus Telecom’s chief executive Ravi Bhatia welcomed the board appointments, but said the bigger impact would be when NBN Company executive director Mike Quigley starts appointing people to fill senior management roles.

“That’s when you start to see the direction they are taking,” Bhatia said. “It’s when Mike Quigley selects his direct reports … they are the ones that are going to have to implement this thing.”

“At the end of the day, the board is there for advice and support.”

“But I have had excellent dealings with Doug Campbell. He is probably the best telecommunications executive in the country, so (his appointment) is a very good thing,” Bhatia said.