Ellis to leave TelstraSaturn

By RICHARD BRADDELL

Senior TelstraSaturn executive Rob Ellis will leave the company as a result of a restructuring which will see the demise of its two retail units - business-focused Telstra and residential-focused Saturn.

Chief executive Jack Matthews said that the company would operate in two functional divisions, with Saturn managing director Sean Wynne becoming director of the new sales and marketing unit at the beginning of next month.

Mr Ellis would help out in the meantime with an equivalent service delivery unit.

Mr Matthews said the restructure was aimed at bringing the company's internal functions into line with customer requirements.

"If we are going to talk the convergent talk to the market, we have to walk the convergent walk internally," he said.

Mr Ellis came to Telstra before its merger with Saturn as acting chief executive in place of Peter Williamson.

"Rob was asked to stay on board but he wants to continue being a chief executive. I understand that and appreciate it," said Mr Matthews. The restructure would not involve any job losses.