Telecom New Zealand has announced that Dr Paul Reynolds as its Chief Executive Officer, effective from late September 2007. Paul is currently CEO of BT Wholesale, the wholesale business of UK-based telecommunications and IT company BT Group.

Paul joined BT in 1983 after completing a doctorate in geology at the University of London. Since then he had worked in sales and marketing, strategy, information systems, broadband, and guiding BT’s wholesale business through the process of operational separation, when Openreach was created. He has served on BT’s Board of Directors since 2001.

Paul will succeed Theresa Gattung, who leaves Telecom on Friday after twelve years at the company, the past eight as the company’s CEO.

Simon Moutter has been appointed as acting CEO until Paul Reynolds formally takes up his role. Simon has held a variety of roles at Telecom, including that of Chief Operating Officer, and has a deep understanding of the business.

According to Telecom New Zealand Chairman Wayne Boyd the search for a replacement CEO involved a global recruitment process. “Globally there are few leaders in the telecommunications industry with Paul’s combination of skills, knowledge and experience,” Mr Boyd said.

“Paul has led programmes of significant change at one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies, in a regulatory environment that has parallels to New Zealand’s.”

Paul Reynolds will be based in Auckland and commence his new role at Telecom in late-September. His appointment is subject to the conditions set out in his summary of employment terms, below. His career summary is also below.