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David Thodey announces retirement from role of Telstra CEO

telstraThe head of Australia’s biggest telco David Thodey is set to retire on May 1, to be replaced by current chief financial officer Andrew Penn as the CEO of Telstra.

Thodey has headed the company since 2009, having joined in 2001 as group managing director of Telstra Mobile, and has spearheaded Telstra’s changed focus with increased emphasis on customer satisfaction.

During his tenure the company’s value has risen from $40bn to over $80bn. It is unclear whether the change will see a reshuffle in other senior management positions.

Chair of Telstra Catherine Livingstone said in a statement this morning: “David has been an outstanding chief executive for our customers, shareholders and employees. His passion for customer service and instigating true cultural change has had an enormously positive effect on our company, which has been reflected in our financial performance in recent years.”In a  statement Thodey said: “Our journey to being a world class customer service organisation is generational progress. We have achieved much change but there is a lot more to do.”

Penn, a former group CEO of Axa Asia Pacific,  has been with the company since early 2012.

Livingstone said: “Andy is a seasoned executive in global markets with proven capability to lead organisations through significant transitions and major expansions.”

Penn’s fixed remuneration will be $2.325m per year including superannuation contributions.

Alex Hayes

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