Telstra has Warwick Bray as appointed as chief financial officer to replace incoming chief executive, Andrew Penn.
Bray, 53, was previously Telstra's group managing director products and will start his new role on May 1 - the same day as Penn, who takes the reins from long-time boss, David Thodey.
Penn said Bray would bring deep understanding of the worldwide telecommunications industry to the role, driving strategic focus for the company and opportunities in key growth areas.
“Warwick has decades of knowledge in and around telecommunications and technology and significant financial experience proven by his business results in Telstra and other companies,” he said.
“We are pleased to have appointed Warwick from within our executive ranks, highlighting the depth of talent within the business.
Telstra’s Group Managing Director Consumer, Karsten Wildberger, will also assume responsibility for GMD Products while a permanent replacement is determined.
A new head of Telstra International is yet to be appointed as a separate role.
Penn said he was well regarded in the industry and had a proven track record in leading and significantly growing multi-billion dollar businesses.”
Bray has been Telstra GMD Products since 2013, responsible for business activities generating $15 billion in annual revenue including mobiles, cable, ADSL, PSTN, NBN and wi-fi.
He joined Telstra in 2009 as head of corporate strategy and worked with Thodey to redefine Telstra’s corporate growth strategy and renew Telstra’s emphasis on customer service.
He became head of mobiles in 2010, growing the business to $9.7 billion in FY14 from $8.0 billion in FY11.
He was Chairman of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association from 2012 to 2014, a Director of Telstra’s former Hong Kong mobile subsidiary, CSL, from 2012 to 2014, and serves on the strategy committee of the Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA).
Bray said Telstra was well placed amongst world telcos to continue expanding its operations geographically and through critical newer segments such as e-health, cloud services and software,” Bray said.
“It is important that we continue striving for excellence in core products and services for our customers in Australia and overseas, particularly our world-class mobile network, while investing to drive growth for our future," he said.
"I’m also enthusiastic about continuing Telstra’s efforts to improve customer advocacy.”
Prior to Telstra, Mr Bray worked in investment banking roles at Taemas Bridge in Australia (2008-2009), Babcock and Brown in London (2006-2008).
