Who got that job?

Were you one of the 67 people who applied for this job and wondered who got it?

Job title: Group general manager, CallPlus.

John Watson has risen from sales consultant to sales director and now group general manager in just 5 1/2 years with locally owned telecommunications company CallPlus.

He recently snapped up the GM's role ahead of 66 other contenders.

Watson, a 32-year-old from Auckland's North Shore, says the company's potential, as well as the challenge and the rewards of the job and "the ability to make a difference", attracted him to the role.

"I respect and admire the people who own the business, as well as the direction and innovation that they provide and their attitude towards the industry and their staff," Watson says.

Those owners are high-profile entrepreneurs Annette Presley and husband Malcolm Dick, the chief executive of the company.

The CallPlus Group includes CallPlus Corporate, offering voice and internet solutions to the business sector, Commverge, which provides voice, data and internet over one circuit with unified messaging, CallPlus Global, providing voice and internet for the home and Slingshot Internet and tolls.

Last year Dick bought 10 per cent of internet company ihug.

Watson says he wants to develop a culture of recruiting and developing people who will be accountable, communicate and perform to high levels.

He wants CallPlus to be a place "where people enjoy turning up to work".

He aims to enable CallPlus staff to make decisions that will benefit the customer and the business.

Watson's plans include a strong focus on growth in the business and residential markets.