Telstra hires top IBM exec and top banker to replace Rocca and Quilty

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 20 January 2011 09:42

IT Industry - Strategy

Telstra has named IBM executive Brendon Riley as COO replacing Michael Rocca who wil retire after a 43 year career with Telstra. Also, former St George Bank CEO, Paul Fegan has been appointed group managing director of a new business unit, Strategy & Corporate Services that will bring together strategic and key corporate functions previously overseen by David Quilty, who is also leaving Telstra.

Rocca will step down as COO on 28 February. However Telstra said he had "agreed to remain at Telstra for a period, reporting to the CEO, to assist with the massive recovery process across the country as Telstra restores networks damaged by recent floods."

Riley joins Telstra from the position of general manager, Northeast Europe at IBM. According to Telstra, "He has lived and worked in Australia, Asia and Europe, led workforces comprising tens of thousands of employees, and managed networks and service delivery. [He] is also a former CEO of IBM Global Services Australia; a joint venture between Telstra, IBM and Lend Lease, and at the time, the leading provider of IT services to the Australian market."

He began his IBM career in Perth, Western Australia, as a sales representative. He held a number of senior management positions in Australia. He will be based in Sydney.

Telstra CEO, David Thodey (himself formerly head of IBM Australia) said: "These appointments are an investment in the next generation of company leaders. Brendon and Paul will lead functions that are fundamental to the company's future success. Their appointments will add breadth, depth and diversity of experience to our leadership team'¦ [They] are part of a series of changes Telstra will continue to make as we adapt to new market opportunities, develop a group of talented leaders for the future, and build a sales- and marketing-led culture."

Fegan will lead a new business unit that combines Telstra's public policy, communications, corporate strategy and mergers and acquisitions functions. These functions were previously led by David Quilty, who has decided to leave the company, and Robert Nason, who will retain responsibility for Project New and continue to advise the company on its program of customer service improvements.

Telstra said its commitment to Project New was unchanged and the company is pleased with progress to date.

Fegan has held a number of executive roles at National Australia Bank in the United States, Asia, United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia. He was executive director of both Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks in the United Kingdom as well as COO of Yorkshire Bank He remains a non-executive director of AMP Limited and Chairman of the Bosch Institute for Medical Research.