Media Release
28 August, 2008
TELECOM NZ BOARD CHANGES
Telecom New Zealand today announced the appointment of Kevin Roberts to the
Telecom New Zealand board to replace board director Patsy Reddy, who is
retiring at this year''s Annual Meeting after ten years of service.
"Kevin Roberts is one of the world''s most innovative and influential thinkers
about corporate branding, marketing and customer satisfaction," said chairman
Wayne Boyd.
Mr Roberts, a New Zealand citizen, is currently worldwide head of advertising
agency Saatchi and Saatchi. Former roles include that of chief operating
officer at brewing company Lion Nathan, based in Auckland. In recognition of
his contribution to business management, Mr Roberts was awarded an honorary
doctorate by the University of Waikato in 1998.
"I am delighted Kevin has accepted this opportunity to join Telecom''s board
at such an important time in the company''s history.
"Kevin is passionate about ideas, about innovation, about good corporate
practice, and about the progress of New Zealand," said Mr Boyd.
"This is an exciting appointment for me," said Mr Roberts.
"Telecom is one of New Zealand''s most important companies, and its
transformation story is a compelling one. It will be a privilege to
contribute to the company''s governance," he said.
Wayne Boyd thanked Patsy Reddy for her ten years of service to the Telecom
board at a time when the company went through profound change.
"As chair of the board''s human resource and compensation committee Patsy
played an important role in providing continuity and experience through a
period of significant challenge while bringing new talent onto our executive
team, to help drive our transformation."
Mr Boyd said Kevin Roberts'' appointment adds essential marketing, branding
and customer satisfaction expertise to a board that already has highly
developed financial, telco, legal, regulatory and general business expertise.
"The appointment of Mr Roberts follows an intensive and rigorous search
process over the last three months, during which Telecom received
independent, external advice.
"It''s important our board attracts and retains people with a mix of skills
appropriate to a company in transformation. That''s why a formal process
exists to identify and appoint directors to the board, as part of the board''s
long-term succession plan.
"This formal process has resulted in four directors joining the board over
the last two years and the board expects further changes will occur over the
next twelve to twenty-four months.
"The board''s process balances the introduction of new skills to the board
while maintaining sufficient continuity, and ensures that shareholders are
given the opportunity to appoint the most appropriately qualified and
experienced candidates to the board," Mr Boyd said.
At the company''s annual general meeting in Wellington on 2 October 2008,
shareholders will be asked to re-elect Mr Roberts to the board of Telecom New
Zealand.
Contact:
Mark Watts
Head of external media
Telecom New Zealand
0272 504 018
or
Ian Bonnar
Media relations manager
027 215 7564
End CA:00169263 For:TEL Type:DIRECTOR Time:2008-08-28:08:58:28