Telecom NZ CEO Theresa Gattung to step down

Stuart Corner
Friday, 02 February 2007 03:15

IT Industry - Deals

Telecom New Zealand CEO, Theresa Gattung will resign her executive and director roles with the company on 30 June after seven years heading the company through a period of massive change in the telecommunications sector.

Telecom NZ chairman, Wayne Boyd, said: "We thank Theresa for her dedication to Telecom. She has built and maintained a high performing team culture throughout the company, and her energy, passion and intellect will be missed. In the three years I have worked with Theresa on the Telecom Board I have come to have a great deal of respect for her.”

He said a search for a new CEO would start immediately and candidates would be sought from within the company and from New Zealand, Australia and globally, and that an update on the CEO search would be given at the next quarterly earnings briefing in early May. Internal candidates flagged as likely contenders are CFO Marko Bogoievski, COO Technology & Enterprises  Mark Ratcliffe and COO Business Simon Moutter.

The announcement ends months of speculation that Gattung's days were numbered after her mentor and predecessor, Rod Deane who went on to become chairman, resigned last year.

It also come just a day after Telecom launched its $A357 million takeover bid for Powertel   and on the day Telecom NZ announced its half year results.