Leading Questions: Chorus CEO JB Rousselot on his plan 'to be to be as far away as possible from telecommunications'

New Chorus boss JB Rousselot: Planning to walk the Milford Track over the summer break. Photo / Supplied

France-born Jean Baptiste or "JB" Rousselot has spent much of his career in Australia, with executive roles at Telstra and the National Broadband Network (NBN). He arrived in New Zealand just over a year ago to take the reins at Chorus. His first 12 months turned out to be far more dramatic than he could ever have imagined. The Ultrafast Broadband (UFB) operator saw record use of its fibre network, and a record share price, as the pandemic drove a work-from-home boom.

What was your first job?

My first paid gig was as an engineering student on a summer internship on a construction site in the middle of a forest in Colombia. My Spanish was "beginner level" at best, and they asked me to lead a small team of five local workers; big learnings! My first real job was as a consultant for Booz-Allen, an information technology consultancy firm, in Paris.

What was your worst job?

I know this is going to sound corny, but I didn't have a "bad" job. Some were more stressful than others, but I've always enjoyed what I was doing.

How would you describe 2020 for your business?

A big challenge: We had to cope with a massive lift in internet traffic on our network while having to learn how to work from home at scale. As an essential infrastructure provider, we had to make sure everything kept working, even under level 4 lockdown. But I feel a great sense of achievement: The Chorus team really stuck together to keep delivering and we worked collaboratively with the rest of the industry.

How do you think the Government has handled the Covid-19 crisis?

I have family in Europe, Australia and the US so the comparison is easy: New Zealand's handling of the crisis is a great example of the right calls being made early, and the right community spirit and participation to get the right outcomes.

What are two key things the Government should do for economic recovery?

Get everyone vaccinated as soon as possible and find a way to responsibly reopen the borders, especially to low-risk countries. Continue to invest in nation-building infrastructure - especially telecommunications having seen the critical role fibre played in us being able to work and learn remotely.

How is your business planning to tackle 2021?

The fundamentals of our business remain the same in a Covid or post-Covid world: Meeting the growing demand for connectivity with our fibre network. In 2021 we will need to continue to be flexible and ready for the unexpected.

What will be the major challenges and/or opportunities for your industry?

Keeping up with demand and helping the economic recovery by bringing to life the benefits of a digital economy. Also educating users, consumers and businesses, so that they can make the right technology and product choices that best fit their needs.

What was the most interesting non-Covid story of 2020?

The US election and the country hopefully turning the page on a divisive political period. Nations, big and small, should work together to improve everyone's lives.

The scenery at Mackinnon Pass on the Milford Track makes up for the effort of getting there. Photo / Pamela Wade

Where are you holidaying this summer?

New Zealand, of course! Walking the Milford track around Christmas to be as far away as possible from fixed or wireless networks and telecommunications!

The Queen's Gambit. Photo / Netflix

What was your favourite TV series of 2020?

The Queen's Gambit: A young woman taking on a male-dominated field and coming out ahead. Plus, a little US-Russian geo-political intrigue.

What are your predictions for 2021?

I'm a "glass half-full" person so I'm hoping for successful vaccination campaigns progressively allowing the borders to reopen and the world economies to recover. I realise though that there will be bumps along the way.