​Tim Miles and Rod Snodgrass depart as Spark announces leadership shake-up

Telco reveals number of changes to its leadership team.

Simon Moutter - Managing Director, Spark New Zealand

Simon Moutter - Managing Director, Spark New Zealand

Credit: Supplied

Spark New Zealand has announced a number of changes to its leadership team, with Spark Digital CEO Tim Miles and Spark Ventures CEO Rod Snodgrass set to leave the telco at the end of 2016.

“I have been in discussions for some months now with various members of the leadership team about what they want for the future and equally what the company wants,” says Simon Moutter, Managing Director, Spark.

“We are ensuring we have the team ready to see the company through the next period of significant change as we strive for a return to growth.

“Some of these changes won’t take effect for several months but I wanted to announce them all together as a comprehensive package, to ensure clear visibility through FY17 and beyond.”

As outlined by Moutter, the leadership team changes are as follows:

Tim Miles, CEO Spark Digital:

Moutter says Miles will move to the next phase of his career and pursue opportunities in corporate governance.

“To that end, Tim and I have agreed he will move on towards the end of 2016,” Moutter explains.

“I have though asked Tim to remain connected to Spark by continuing as non-executive Chairman of both CCL and Revera. Tim has been in the thick of the action in this company – leading Spark Digital through a period of tremendous repositioning.

“His enduring legacy can be felt every day in Spark Digital’s customer-inspired culture and through our market leadership in Platform IT (Cloud) services – which the company wasn’t really a player in when Tim arrived at the beginning of 2013.”

Rod Snodgrass, CEO Spark Ventures:

In addition, Moutter says Snodgrass has indicated he’d also like to finish up with Spark but continue to be involved in driving corporate innovation and growth across a select range of New Zealand businesses.

Snodgrass has held many roles with Spark over a number of years including running Xtra and leading Telecom’s fixed line business; he was also the Chief Strategy Officer and the Chief Product Officer but according to Moutter, "really made his mark" in the past three years as CEO of Spark Ventures.

“Few executives at any New Zealand company have accomplished what he has achieved,” Moutter adds.

"Creating a number of start-up businesses and brands, innovating with new products and business models, developing new digital versions of existing products, and bringing a sharper digital edge to what we do.

“Rod’s efforts in this space have helped drive significant innovations and growth and position Spark as an innovation leader and Rod’s insights and advice are in keen demand from many outside organisations.

"We’ve agreed that he’ll leave Spark towards the end of 2016 so that he can pursue this path.”

Jolie Hodson, CFO Spark New Zealand:

Following the departures, Moutter says Hodson will move across to replace Miles as the CEO of Spark Digital.

“Jolie joined Spark back in 2013 and by any measure has done a terrific job as the CFO,” Moutter adds.

“She’s a significant talent for the organisation and a natural leader; she’s also a very commercial, customer focused and pragmatic executive who’s delivered on everything she’s been asked to do.

“I’m confident she’ll be an excellent leader of Spark Digital, taking the business to the next level of its evolution. Jolie will take over the reins formally towards the end of 2016, once the FY16 financial results have been delivered and communicated.”

New CEO Spark Ventures:

Moutter says he intends to select a new CEO for Spark Ventures from the internal talent pool within Spark and will be opening the selection process to a number of invited candidates in due course.

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