Telecom marketing post gets unplugged

By PETER GRIFFIN

Some of the marketing fizz has been lost within Telecom's top management with the departure of its sales and services head, Kevin Stratful, a former Lion Breweries managing director.

Word that he was leaving came last week as chief executive Theresa Gattung revealed an extensive restructuring of her management team.

Mr Stratful was this week on holiday and unavailable for comment.

Telecom spokesman Martin Freeth said the move to create separate management units on each side of the Tasman had left no room for the group general manager of sales and services, the role that Mr Stratful had filled.

"It wasn't a question of unsatisfactory personal performance or business unit performance," he said.

Mr Stratful joined Telecom in 1999 as the company sought to breathe new life into its marketing and to emulate some of the branding successes of the brewing industry.

His departure is believed to have come as a surprise to Telecom staff.

So, too, has the restructuring that gives Simon Moutter, Telecom's group general manager of networks, a wider role in its mobile, network and sales and services units.