Chorus has reshuffled its executive team, with a few of the company's key leaders exiting later this year.
A Chorus veteran, Nick Woodward has been with the company since its foundation as a business unit of Telecom in 2008. Woodward will leave his position as general manager of product sales and marketing on 27th of July this year.
Chorus CEO Kate McKenzie comments on Woodward's departure: "Nick has applied his expertise and leadership in areas of the business wherever it has been needed most, and made a significant impact every time.
"His contribution over many years has been enormous and I would like to personally thank him for everything he has done during my time as CEO.
At the same time, the company is welcoming a new member to its executive team. Chorus' new chief customer officer is Ed Hyde, who was most recently the CEO of Spark Ventures.
McKenzie says, "We are delighted to have secured an executive of Ed's capability, and his experience will be invaluable as Chorus continues to develop innovative new products and services.
The former Spark executive also comments on his new position at Chorus: "I'm pleased to be joining Chorus at such an important point in its development as a company.
"As we near the conclusion of the bulk of the fibre build, and with a rapidly and dynamically changing environment, customer focus and innovation will be essential to Chorus achieving its objectives and continuing to make New Zealand better.
Additionally, the company is also losing Ed Beattie, its GM of network and field management (GM NFM). Beattie will leave Chorus on the 10th August, while Chorus' current chief financial officer Andrew Carroll will transition into the GM NFM role.
"Ed has been a stalwart of New Zealand's telecommunications scene for decades," continues McKenzie.
"Most recently he has overseen the rollout of the massively successful Ultra-fast Broadband network, which remains firmly on track and on budget, and prior to that he oversaw the rollout of fibre to the node and the rebuild of the telecommunications network in Christchurch after the earthquakes."
"His contribution has been immense and lasting.
"Both Nick and Ed have had a massive impact on telecommunications and broadband in New Zealand, and they have been at the centre of the huge leap forward in the quality of our national infrastructure that has been seen over the last 10 years.
"They leave a huge mark on New Zealand and leave Chorus with our thanks following many years of dedicated service.
"I'm also delighted that Andy has accepted the challenge of such an important operational role. He has had close involvement with Chorus' UFB programme since demerger, and the NFM team, so we expect a smooth transition.
"We all know he is an exceptional CFO, having been acknowledged as CFO of the year in 2017.
McKenzie concludes, "I have every confidence that he will bring all those skills and capabilities to bear on his next challenge at Chorus.
Chorus Executive Team (following transition):
- CEO – Kate McKenzie
- GM Network and Field Management – Andrew Carroll
- GM Strategy and Business Operations – Vanessa Oakley
- Chief Customer Officer – Ed Hyde
- GM Customer Care – Jo Crawford (currently on maternity leave)
- General Counsel and Company Secretary – Elaine Campbell
- Chief Technology Officer – Ewen Powell
- GM Corporate Relations – Ian Bonnar
- GM People - Culture – Shaun Philp
- Chief Financial Officer – To be recruited
