Just as Telecom New Zealand (TCNZ) began to stamp its mark on takeover victim AAPT, Ron Nissen found other interests that prevented him from continuing in the top job at Australia's third-largest telco. Nissen had joined AAPT as chief operating officer from Motorola in October 1999 and took up the CEO's role when Larry Williams returned to the US two months ago.
Nissen's departure from AAPT had not been widely expected - there was certainly no hint when The Rust Report recently spoke to him -- but happened to coincide with an announcement by Theresa Gattung, CEO of Telecom, spelling out the Kiwi carrier's "integration progress". That progress included the appointment of David Bedford, who was previously Telecom's general manager of networks, as COO of AAPT in Sydney.
Gattung said that the Internet and mobile businesses of Telecom and AAPT have been brought together in two trans-Tasman business units, each under an integrated management team. Graham Mitchell, formerly general manager of Telecom's Internet services, will move to Sydney to lead the combined Internet businesses, while Mohan Jesudason, formerly Telecom's general manager of mobile operations, will lead the combined mobile businesses from Wellington.
Gattung explained that the new look Telecom will be made up of six business units - the Australian-based units of AAPT and Telecom; the Internet and mobile groups operating on both sides of the Tasman; and the New Zealand units of Telecom sales and services and e-solutions.
"The integration of Telecom and AAPT is ongoing with more key decisions on systems, processes, branding and other matters to be made over the next few months," Gattung said.
Rizzo departure jolts Telstra investors
Paul Rizzo, CFO of Telstra, created big waves when he announced this week that he would leave the carrier after seven years to become director of the Melbourne Business School. Rizzo had joined Telstra from Commonwealth Bank of Australia and had previously held senior positions with State Bank of Victoria and ANZ. With responsibility for cost-cutting measures within Telstra, Rizzo was widely regarded as the driest financial executive in the company, and his departure was acknowledged as bad news by institutional investors, who promptly sold down the telco's shares.
The break is not quite complete, since Rizzo will remain with Telstra until early in 2001 and will continue as chairman of Foxtel and as a director of IBM Global Services Australia.
"I leave a strong company with a strong management team and I look forward to continuing my close personal and business associations with Telstra," Rizzo said in a prepared statement.
Other senior Telstra personnel to leave since the appointment of CEO Ziggy Switkowski 20 months ago include Lindsay Yelland, Peter Shore and Rob Cartwright.
John Treloar takes new A/NZ job at AllaireAllaire has appointed John Treloar country manager for Australia and New Zealand, which is a job created by the company's recent decision to split its regional business into three groups, encompassing A/NZ, Asia and Japan.
Before joining Allaire Treloar operated his own contracting business, through which he undertook a number of senior marketing roles with the Australian operation of Computer Sciences Corp, including director of marketing and director of communications for the AMP/GIO transition. He has also held senior management roles with Microsoft in Australia and in Europe.
With Allaire, Treloar will be responsible for the development and implementation of sales, business and distribution strategies; management of the company's sales and operations personnel and for the development of marketing initiatives.
Around the traps
John Greaves has joined Solution 6 as group finance director, and is to be made an executive director "in due course". He has had a long association with Solution 6's new CEO Neil Gamble and managing director Neville Buch after having worked with them both at Wormald and Tyco InternationalJulie-Ann Kerin has been appointed regional director for Asia/Pacific at Actuate Corporation. She joined the company from B2B specialist Haht Asia in North Carolina, and has also served as vice president of international operations at Genasys Software.
Tony Fernandez-Stoll has taken the Australian and NZ marketing director's job at Computer Associates. He was previously divisional vice president of marketing for the company's Canadian operation.
Doubts remain about the health of Apple Australia's managing Di Ryall. It is understood an announcement to clarify the position will be made within days.
B2B Internet company Peakhour has appointed Tony Batten vice president of technology and operations. He joined the company from Vodafone Network, where he was general manager of IT.
Graeme Baker has been appointed national human resources director for the Australian arm of TeleTech Holdings. He was previously the company's Melbourne site director.
The Australian Interactive Multimedia Association has appointed a new president and committee for 2001. The new committee is:
Colin Griffith, ABC New Media, president;Philip Spencer, Com Tech (Victoria), vice president;Peter Higgs, IPR Systems (NSW), secretary;Marjolein Towler, (WA), treasurer: Robert Chirgwin, Ngapartji, (SA); Robert Clemente, Television Education Network (Victoria);Sandra Davey, consultant (NSW);Phil Dutchak, ODN (Northern Territory);Tom Kennedy, Brainwaave (NSW);Ian Mackay, Manaccom (Queensland);Dale Spender, Digital Style (Queensland);Janice Humphreys, AIMIA national export access manager;Graeme Newman, (ATA representative).