Ondarchie out as Clever overhauls board

Clever Communications Australia (formerly Access Providers) has dumped its founder and managing director, Keith Ondarchie, as part of a major spring clean of its board.

He has been replaced by new CEO, Scott Carter, who spent the past three years as wholesale general manager for PowerTel. Carter has a total of 15 years experience in the telecoms industry and has become a director of Clever Communications.

The CEO swap follows the recent appointment of David Williams as the ASX-listed company's new chairman. He has 20 years experience in the corporate advisory services field and currently works for Kidder Williams providing merger and acquisitions and float assistance.

"There were a couple of shareholders dissatisfied with the direction the share price was heading in and wanted to see a sea change," Williams said. "Clever has a cracker network but needs a stronger sales and marketing focus. With Scott's background and our new corporate focus, we should be able to make that sea change very quickly."

Ondarchie had not returned calls for comment at the time of press.

In a statement, Carter said expanding Clever's national network was a high priority over the next 12 months, with blunt already allocated for Perth, Canberra, the Queensland Gold Coast and Sunshine Coasts. Existing networks in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane would also be extended.

Developing stronger wholesale partnerships with carriers and channel partners was also high on the list, he said. Other changes to the Clever board include the return of Access Providers executive director and Saise Telecom managing director, Alex Kontouris. He entered the telco industry in 1995 is currently the managing director of the Kelkon Group of Companies.

Kontouris is joined by another new addition, Philip Powell, who has spent the past nine years in the financial consulting division of Arthur Anderson. His resume also includes stints with public listed companies and investment banking.

The pair replace outgoing board directors, Peter Lowe and Tony Dage.

Access Providers, along with its subsidiaries, Saise Telecom and Activ Australia, rebranded to Clever Communications Australia in June.

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