Telstra Loses Strategic Marketing Director

Only a few weeks after he announced his own plans to leave the firm, Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo have announced that Bill Stewart, the company's Group Managing Director (GMD), Strategic Marketing will also be leaving the company, to return to his home and family in the United States.

Kate McKenzie, currently GMD, Telstra Wholesale will replace Mr Stewart, effective March 30. Ms McKenzie's replacement at Telstra Wholesale will be announced in the coming weeks.

Bill Stewart joined Telstra in 2005 to lead the newly formed Strategic Marketing group, which has responsibility for corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, market-based management, pricing, brand management and advertising, and Telstra Asia.

"Under Bill's leadership, Telstra has delivered increased customer satisfaction across all our business units and services," Mr Trujillo said. "Bill and his team have helped deliver increases in market share, improved margins, lower churn and high strike rates for sales.

Mr Stewart paid tribute to the accomplishments of the Strategic Marketing group.

"I am immensely proud of the people in Strategic Marketing for delivering this critical element of the transformation," Mr Stewart said. "All of our achievements have been possible because of the commitment and professionalism of the Telstra team."

Mr Trujillo said that Telstra was fortunate to have someone of Kate McKenzie's calibre and experience to take on the role of GMD Strategic Marketing.

Ms McKenzie will continue to report to the CEO and maintain her position on the CEO Leadership Team.

Posted to the site on 12th March 2009