20-year Telecom employee Mark Ratcliffe will split from the company along with network arm, Chorus, if a planned de-merger is approved by shareholders, Telecom has confirmed.

Ratcliffe has been CEO of Chorus since it was established in 2008.

Sue Sheldon, who will chair Chorus should the de-merger go ahead, says she is pleased to have secured Ratcliffe’s services.

"Mark offers unmatched experience and credibility,” Sheldon says.

"His team has built a trusted reputation with the telecommunications industry. This appointment will set a stand-alone Chorus in good stead if shareholders approve the demerger transaction.”

The de-merger was proposed as part of Chorus’ bid for the government’s Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) contract.

Telecom says the de-merger will take place by the end of the year, provided it is approved by shareholders.

The confirmation of Ratcliffe as Chorus CEO has led to some speculation about the future of Telecom chief executive Paul Reynolds, although Reynolds himself has said he has given no thought to leaving the company.