Presley and Slingshot parting company

Annette Presley is a high profile figure in the New Zealand internet and telecommunications industry. Picture / Hawke's Bay Today

Well-known entrepreneur and telecommunications advocate Annette Presley is leaving Slingshot, the internet company she founded, the firm said today.

Slingshot owners CallPlus today announced that Ms Presley will be standing down from her executive role within Slingshot "to pursue new opportunities".

They describe themselves as "New Zealand's largest 100 per cent kiwi owned full service telecommunications company".

Ms Presley herself has long played the role of a thorn in the side of Telecom and the Communications Minister, David Cunliffe, as she advocated for free and open competition on all telecommunication services.

Martin Wylie, CEO of CallPlus said "Annette has done a fantastic job in helping achieve competition in the telecommunications market in New Zealand and grow the Slingshot brand into a household name.

"This success is reflected in Slingshot becoming the fastest growing internet service provider (ISP) over the past five years and her continued passion to deliver true choice for all New Zealanders. Her primary job of building the business and fighting for change is done; we must now continue the vision."

Wylie continued: "Starting with its origins in i4free, Slingshot was launched to become an outstanding Kiwi success story of which she is justifiably proud. It is the end of an era but she will always be recognised as New Zealand's internet Queen."

Ms Presley remains a shareholder and director of CallPlus, and her business partner Malcolm Dick will assume the role of Executive Chairman.

She is also one of the high-profile businesspeople who decide whether to give budding entrepreneurs their first break on Television One's Dragons' Den New Zealand, which screens Thursday evenings.

- NZHERALD STAFF