SYDNEY: Telstra has appointed Kate McKenzie to the newly created role of chief marketing officer in a restructure announced by Telstra chief executive David Thodey in a statement today.
Thodey's announcement also confirmed the departure of group managing director of voice, broadband & media Justin Milne who will leave on 1 June.
JB Rousselot, a Telstra veteran of six years, becomes executive director of voice, broadband & media as the company looks at "the next stage of its digital media startegy".
McKenzie, previously Telstra group managing director of strategic marketing, will oversee product innovation, promotion and pricing across all Telstra business units including voice, broadband & media, wireless, data, mobility products and applications & services.
She will lead the newly created product and marketing innovation group, which Telstra claims will be a "focal point for product and marketing innovation".
Amanda Johnston-Bell's role as executive director brands & marketing communications remains unchanged and she will report in to McKenzie.
"Kate will oversee the engine room of product innovation at Telstra," Thodey said. "For the first time, Telstra's product developers will be brought together with those people responsible for the strategy, pricing, promotion and market analysis of these products."
"This reform will enable the company to bring products to market much more quickly, with marketing and pricing integrated into the development process from the very beginning," he said.
The restructure also includes the appointment of former Hewlett-Packard and Dell executive Gordon Ballantyne as group managing director of Telstra consumer & channels, and the expansion of Robert Nason's role as group managing director of customer experience, simplicity & productivity.
McKenzie was promoted to group managing director of strategic marketing, in March 2009, prior to this she spent three years as group managing director of Telstra Wholesale business unit. She joined the company in Auguat 2004 as head of Telstra's regulatory group and was quickly promoted to deputy group managing director for public policy & communication. Before joining Telstra, McKenzie was director general of the Department of Commerce in NSW.
Last week, Telstra announced it would be coming on board as a major sponsor for the second series of Network Ten's MasterChef, which is expected to go to air in May.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.