Full IOG Now Appointed

Full IOG Now Appointed

Telecom’s board today announced the appointment of the remaining four members of the Independent Oversight Group (IOG), the group established to monitor Telecom compliance with the ‘Undertakings’ as required under operational separation.

Telecom has previously announced that the IOG will be chaired by retired High Court Judge, Hon Barry Paterson, CNZM, OBE, QC.

In addition to Barry Paterson, the independent members will be Dave Frow and Jerry Rickman.

• Dave Frow is a former chief executive of state owned enterprise ECNZ who in more recent years has been a company director, senior energy advisor and strategic management consultant, specialising in the energy, postal, water management and manufacturing sectors. He also has been on the boards of NZX and Waste Management prior to its takeover.
• Jerry Rickman is a chartered accountant with significant experience in governance for various community organisations. A large part of his career has been with chartered accountants Beattie Rickman in Hamilton though he has worked overseas as well. He is an associate of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand. He is chair of Learning Media and also the Waikato Regional Airport Limited.

Non-independent members filling the final two positions on the IOG are Telecom board member Ron Spithill and general manager of Telecom International, Anthony Briscoe.

• Ron Spithill has extensive experience in the telecommunications industry. He was previously president Alcatel Asia Pacific, responsible for operations in 16 countries, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of the Paris-Based Alcatel group and vice chairman of Alcatel Shanghai Bell. He has been CEO and chairman of Alcatel Australia and been director/chairman of eight other Group Companies in Asia. He is a past president of the Telecommunications Industry Association of Australia. He was made a distinguished fellow of the Telecommunications Society of Australia in 2003 and a fellow of The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in 2007.
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• Anthony Briscoe has been at Telecom since 1989 and has held his present role as general manager, Telecom New Zealand International since 1994. Anthony initiated the development of Telecom New Zealand’s interest and investment in the Southern Cross Cable system and is one of Telecom’s representative’s on the board. He is also chairman and/or a director a number of Telecom’s off-shore subsidiaries, and has been on the Boards of other joint venture companies including Telecom Systems Support Ltd (with NEC) Telecom Cook Islands Ltd (Cook Islands Government) and Telecom Samoa Mobile Ltd (Samoa Government). His other board experience outside Telecom has included chairmanship of HortResearch, a CRI, and he is currently a director of Airways Corporation.

A robust selection process was undertaken using an external recruitment company that specialises in senior appointments.

Telecom chairman Wayne Boyd said the IOG, which comprises a majority of independent members, would monitor and report to the Telecom board and the Commerce Commission on Telecom's compliance with the Undertakings.

“The IOG has an excellent blend of expertise and experience gained across a number of sectors. It also has the appropriate mix of independence to monitor, report and advise on Telecom’s obligations under the Undertakings,” Mr Boyd said.

The Commerce Commission was consulted during the IOG appointment process.

ENDS

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