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Updated: Bhatia retires from Primus

Richard Baumfield will be stepping in as acting head of the Australian operation while a replacement is being sought

Primus Australia CEO, Ravi Bhatia, is retiring from the telco.

Richard Baumfield will step in as acting head of the Australian operation while a replacement is being sought.

Bhatia has been with Primus since its inception in the Australian market in 1995.

"Since then, we made a number of acquisitions along the way, established our own network and made it into a very successful, large company," Bhatia told ARN.

"As the industry changed, we were leaders in introducing Internet in Australia and at one point we were the second largest ISP. Subsequently we were also pioneers in broadband back in 2003/4."

Bhatia reflected on the privilege of working with people such as Senator Stephen Conroy, iiNet's Michael Malone, Internode's Simon Hackett and Optus' Paul O'Sullivan.

"It's been a great ride and after 16 years, I'm leaving on a high note," he said. "Now I would like to try a few other things in life rather than telco."

Bhatia said he would like to try his hand in other industries and use his business experience in areas such as the resources sector.

He will continue to work with Primus as an advisor to its board of directors.

“Through skilful leadership, and innovation, he has been the driving force behind building this unit into one of the country’s largest full-service voice and data carriers with an established national brand,” Primus chairman and CEO, Peter Aquino, said.

“The board joins me in expressing appreciation to Ravi for his years of dedication and exceptional leadership, and looks forward to his continued contribution as we pursue our National Broadband Network opportunity in mainland Australia.”

Bhatia's resignation follows bowing out of long-time AAPT CEO, Paul Broad, last month who left to join Infrastructure NSW. AAPT network and technology general manager, David Yuile, took over from Broad.

Nominations for the 2012 ARN IT Industry Awards open on Tuesday, June 12.

More about: AAPT, AAPT, APT, ARN, etwork, iiNet, Internode, Optus, Primus
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