Former 2degrees chief in Pacific role

The 2degrees mobile chief who stunned market watchers by leaving just as the network got off the ground could be back in New Zealand as part of his new role.

Former 2degrees chief executive Mike Reynolds has taken a job overseeing the Asia Pacific region for a Florida-based mobile telecommunications technology company.

Reynolds surprised many in the industry by announcing his departure from the mobile start-up after just 12 months at the helm and weeks from the network launch.

His new job at New York Stock Exchange-listed Syniverse as executive vice-president overseeing the Asia Pacific area may see him selling services and technology to 2degrees and its telecommunications rivals Telecom and Vodafone.

When his departure was announced in July, Reynolds would not reveal where he was headed, only saying he had accepted "an opportunity back home in America".

"I look forward to continuing to contribute to the success of 2degrees in a different capacity and I'm pleased to be handing over the leadership of the company to Eric Hertz," said Reynolds at the time.

Reynolds has a family home in Tampa, the Florida city where Syniverse is based, but his new job will see him working from the company's Hong Kong offices.