Ex Telecom boss tells all

[Updated - new book title/release date] Former Telecom CEO Theresa Gattung has written an indepth account of her seven years at the helm in a memoir due out in March.

The book will be published by Random House and will now go on sale on Friday 12 March. In pre-publicity the memoir is being touted as “inspirational and candid” and “no-holds barred”.

Publicity manager Sarah Thornton says a substantial amount of the book will deal with Gattung’s tenure as Chief Executive of the country’s largest telco. The book has had two working titles - Second Act and Bird on a Wire - and there has been some discussion as to which is the most appropriate. However, it's now been decided that Bird on a Wire is the most accurate reflection of the content.The title is a play on the idea that running such a large company is something of a high-wire act, as well as a reference to the telecommunications industry.

Gattung was just 37 years old when she was appointed CEO in 1999, taking over from Rod Deane who became Telecom’s Chairman.

She headed the company from 1999 to 2007 during a period of tremendous change in the telecommunications industry. Gattung acquired an international profile and was named by Forbes as one of the world’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2006.

Gattung managed to stave off regulation on Telecom's copper network for much of her tenure, but in May 2006 the government announced it would allow competition in the form of Local Loop Unbundling. It also announced the incumbent would be operationally separated into three divisions. Gattung resigned the following year.