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Sensis boss Bruce Akhurst ousted after seven years at the helm

Bruce Akhurst, the CEO of Telstra’s troubled directories business Sensis – which operates the Yellow Pages – is to leave the company after a 15-year stint with the company.

He is to be replaced temporarily by Rick Ellis, Telstra Digital Media’s group MD, during the search for a replacement.

Telstra CEO David Thodey said in a statement that during Akhurst’s time, Sensis had “managed to maintain strong print revenues compared to its global peers”.

Thodey also thanked Akhurst for his role in helping Telstra to make the transition “from a traditional phone company to a full service information, advertising and telecommunications provider”.

Akhurst commented: “I have enjoyed my time as CEO of Sensis. It is time now for a change and I look forward to exploring new opportunities. I have been amazed and inspired by the commitment and resourcefulness of our people”

“The Sensis team is executing a significant transformation and building an exciting future for a once traditional print business. Their talent, customer focus and dedication has been exceptional. I thank my team and my colleagues at Telstra and wish everyone in the business every success in the future.”

Akhurst was appointed CEO of Sensis in 2005. Prior to that, he was group MD and group general counsel for Telstra for a seven-year stint.

Before joining Telstra in 1998, Akhurst was a partner at law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques, a company he was with for 16 years.

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