Chorus' executive in charge of building its tax-payer funded broadband programmes will leave the telecommunications network operator at the end April.

General manager of network build Chris Dhyrberg decided to resign from Chorus over Christmas, and will stay on for another three months, the company said in a statement.

Dhyrberg has been responsible for the roll-out of the ultra-fast broadband fibre network and the company's joint venture with Vodafone New Zealand to deliver the rural broadband initiative.

"I accepted Chris resignation with much regret. He's been with Chorus since our inception and has been heavily involved in all aspects of the RBI and UFB programmes," chief executive Mark Ratcliffe said.

"He's worked incredibly hard over an extended period, and all of us at Chorus owe him a vote of thanks for that."

Dhyrberg's resignation comes as Chorus digs in over the Commerce Commission's draft ruling on how the network operator prices its copper lines, which Chorus will deter consumers take-up of fibre and stymie investment.

Responsibility for the UFB and RBI builds will go to GM of infrastructure operations Ed Beattie, the company said.

Chorus was spun-out from Telecom as a separately-listed company last year to free up the telecommunications company from its regulatory burden and allow the network operator to successfully win a billion dollar subsidy to build a nationwide fibre network and rural broadband system.

Some 80 percent of the network company's revenue is still derived from the ageing copper network, and is subject to the Commerce Commission's pricing review.

Chorus' shares fell 0.7 percent to $2.86 on Tuesday, and have shed 2.7 percent this year.

BusinessDesk