Telstra names new dream team

Telstra announced yesterday its latest organisational changes, naming 10 senior executives, and revealing its extended focus on the mobile market.

Chief executive officer Ziggy Switkowski said Dick Simpson had joined the company from NRMA as group managing director - mobile and wireless communications. Simpson has previously held positions with Optus, Toshiba and IBM.

Switkowski said the mobile market had continued to grow, becoming "extremely competitive" and is extending into data and Internet applications.

"It is essential mobiles and wireless have a dedicated senior executive team that can focus on providing customers with the most up-to-date mobile services, attractively priced and marketed to ensure Telstra remains number one," he said.

A key responsibility of that executive team would be launch of Telstra's CDMA network, he said.

Other appointments include:

Bruce Akhurst: Group general counsel, legal and regulatoryDoug Campbell: Wholesale and internationalRob Cartwright: Employee relationsGerry Moriarty: Networks and technology groupTed Pretty: Convergent businessPaul Rizzo: Finance and administrationPeter Shore: Consumer and commercialGraeme Ward: Public affairs and corporate marketingLindsay Yelland: Business and governmentSwitkowski said the new organisational framework reflected Telstra's strategic priorities.