Published on the 26/04/2016 | Written by Newsdesk
Tim Miles, Rod Snodgrass out as telecoms operator ‘strives for return to growth’…
The CEOs of Spark Ventures and Spark Digital are to leave the company as Spark New Zealand reorganises the top floor in a dizzying set of musical chairs in which there are, inevitably, a few less seats than participants.
MD Simon Moutter in a statement said the changes are about what members of the executive team want for the future “and equally what the company wants – ensuring we have the team ready to see the company through the next period of significant change as we strive for a return to growth.”
The statement said Tim Miles, Spark Digital CEO, has decided to move to the next phase of his career. He will leave the company towards the end of 2016, but is likely to remain as non-executive chairman of Computer Concepts Limited and infrastructure company Revera.
He is to be replaced by Jolie Hodson, present CFO of Spark New Zealand, once the FY16 financial results have been delivered and communicated. Moutter said Spark has identified an external candidate to take Hodson’s position.
The other executive moving on is Rod Snodgrass, CEO of Spark Ventures. He too will leave towards the end of 2016; the statement emphasised that the decision was mutual, noting that Snodgrass will continue to be involved in driving corporate innovation and growth across a select range of New Zealand businesses. Moutter said a new CEO for this business will come from Spark’s internal talent pool.
Following the split of Spark’s Connect business unit into Connect and Platforms, Mark Beder is to take the reins of COO at Spark Connect; Claire Barber is appointed Chief Digital Officer at Spark Platforms, with both appointments effective 1 July. Spark Connect COO David Havercroft becomes CTO – that’s Chief Transformation Officer – at the mothership, Spark New Zealand, also effective 1 July. Said Moutter: “The company is about to enter what I think will be another significant and very exciting period of change. This won’t be a permanent role, but it will be an important role for a while yet.”
Thankfully, Moutter said Havercroft’s role will cover areas including “some big business simplification choices we are considering”, among others.
“Over the past four years, we’ve gone through enormous change in our core business, we’ve rejuvenated the company at all levels and we’ve transformed from Telecom to Spark,” Moutter said. “Leadership succession is something many companies grapple with. This announcement shows our determination to do this right and ensure Spark New Zealand has strong, effective leadership for the period ahead.”
