Telstra names new retail chief

TELSTRA has again reshuffled its senior executive pack, appointing a new head of retail after the unexpected and immediate departure of Kevin Russell.

The telco has promoted Vicki Brady to replace Mr Russell in charge of consumer and small business.

Mr Russell, the former head of Optus, is leaving Telstra after just one and a half years. The appointment of Ms Brady is effective immediately.

Ms Brady, also a former senior executive at Optus, and Mr Russell joined Telstra last year as it looked to reinforce the capabilities of its multibillion-dollar consumer arm.

Ms Brady was Optus’ product and marketing managing director before she was poached by Telstra.

She was group managing director of Telstra’s consumer arm before her promotion.

Ms Brady joins the executive leadership team and will take control of Telstra’s overall pitch to residential and small business consumers at a critical time for the telco.

She had a strong record of improving customer experien- ces, leading product simplification and delivering commercial results, Telstra chief Andy Penn said.

“She is highly regarded internally and externally and will make a strong addition to my leadership team.”

Telstra’s retail arm has suffered significant churn following the departure of Gordon Ballantyne in October 2015 after a five-year stint.

Mr Ballantyne’s replacement, Karsten Wildberger, stayed in the position for only two months, leaving that December.

Mr Russell was appointed as head of the retail arm in April last year and his departure comes as the competitive pres- sure on Telstra starts to intensify. Australia’s biggest telco has slashed its forecast total dividend payout for the new financial year to 22c a share.

It is reducing its payout ratio from almost 100 per cent of underlying earnings — a profit measurement stripping out one-off items — to a range of 70 per cent to 90 per cent.