Telstra chief operations officer to depart

Kate McKenzie to leave telco after more than a decade

Telstra’s chief operations officer, Kate McKenzie, has called it quits after 12 years, the telco announced this morning.

McKenzie has had the role of chief operations officer since 2013. She served as group managing director, Telstra innovation products and marketing, from 2010 to 2013. McKenzie joined the telco in 2004 as head of its regulatory group.

“Kate has been a positive force for Telstra, supporting four chief executive officers and working to build our technology and innovation capability,” Telstra CEO Andrew Penn said in a statement.

“She has been a significant contributor to our customer-focused culture and a role model for women in the organisation. I have appreciated her support and counsel.”

“It has been a wonderful 12 years with Telstra and I am very proud of all the people I have worked with and what we have achieved together,” McKenzie said.

“The time is right for me to change direction in my career.”

As chief operations officer McKenzie has been responsible for Telstra’s field services, IT and network architecture and operations. This year she has had to outline steps the telco was taking to improve network resilience after a number of high-profile mobile and fixed line outages.

McKenzie “will leave Telstra in the coming weeks,” Telstra said. Group executive global enterprise and services, Brendon Riley, will take on her responsibilities with immediate effect while a permanent replacement is sought.

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