OPTUS APPOINTS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Optus today announced the appointment of Kevin Russell to the role of Chief Operating Officer with immediate effect.

Mr Russell, who was most recently Chief Executive of mobile operator Hutchison Three in the United Kingdom, is an experienced Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer with both international as well as Australian experience.

In the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer, Mr Russell will be responsible for the day to day operations of the mass market segments of Optus’ business as well as the Wholesale and Satellite division. As such he will be responsible for the Optus Consumer, Optus Small and Medium Business, and the Optus Wholesale and Satellite businesses as well as Optus’ wholly owned subsidiary, Virgin Mobile. Mr Russell will report to Optus Chief Executive, Paul O’Sullivan.

“We are proud of our track record as Australia’s leading investor in telecommunications competition and our success as a market innovator. Kevin’s experience and this appointment will strengthen our ability to take full advantage of the opportunities emerging in our market. His track record in the industry speaks for itself and I am delighted to welcome him to the Optus team,” Optus Chief Executive, Paul O’Sullivan said.

Kevin Russell, Optus Chief Operating Officer said, “I’m returning to Australia at a very exciting time in the telecoms industry with the roll-out of 4G and the National Broadband Network both gathering pace. I’m looking forward to working with Paul and the Optus team to take full advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead.”

Mr Russell will be a member of Optus’ senior leadership team and will be based in Sydney. Prior to taking up this position, Mr Russell spent sixteen years working for the Hutchison Whampoa Group in a variety of senior leadership roles. He spent the last five years in the United Kingdom as Chief Operating Officer and subsequently Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Three UK, where he was responsible for leading the turnaround of the business.

Before joining Hutchison Three UK, Mr Russell was Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Telecoms Australia where he led the roll-out of Australia’s first 3G network and the launch of 3G services. Previous roles included Chief Financial Officer at Partner Communications in Israel and Director of Finance for Hutchison Telecom International.

Media contact:

Liz Greene
Optus Corporate Affairs
(02) 8082 1132