Telecom has announced the leadership of two of its operational units. Mark Ratcliffe, currently chief operating officer technology and enterprises, has been appointed CEO-designate of Telecom's network business, or Access Network Services.
Matt Crockett, currently general manager of Telecom Wholesale, will become CEO of the wholesale division and join Telecom's executive team, reporting directly to Telecom CEO Paul Reynolds.
Ratcliffe now joins the list of CIOs who have moved on to chief executive roles. Ratcliffe was CIO of Telecom New Zealand prior to his appointment as chief operating officer technology and enterprises.
Access Network Services is due to go live on 31 March 2008, but has been working effectively as a separate unit for some time. It is charged with delivering equivalent network access for operators including Telecom's retail unit.
Ratcliffe will be based in Wellington while Crockett and his team will be based in Auckland.
Telecom CEO Paul Reynolds says Ratcliffe led Telecom's negotiations on operational separation and combines outstanding technical knowledge built up over his 19 years at Telecom with good relationships with government, industry and other stakeholders.
In an interview with CIO New Zealand early this year, Ratcliffe says one advice for CIOs on progressing their careers in ICT and beyond is to take an opportunity to do a non-technology role for a period of time. It will "make you a better leader of technology groups," he said. "Because you are bringing a customer perspective or your supplier perspective into the role and doing that is very advantageous."
With additional reporting from Divina Paredes