Michael Browne, who was last month promoted to become Datacom's group chief executive, has died as the result of a heart attack. The company confirms Browne, who was 46, died on Saturday.
He became Datacom's Australia/Asia CEO in 1999 and began with the firm in Wellington in 1992.
John Holdsworth will contine in the role of executive chairman of the Datacom Group, and will resume Browne's responsibilities until further notice, says Datacom.