Who got that job?

Job title: Government relations general manager

For: Vodafone

Were you one of the 90 people who applied for this job and wondered who got it?

"It was huge - we were spoiled for choice," says Lindsay Jackson, of Momentum Consulting. She believes applicants were attracted by Vodafone's transition from a telecommunications company to an IT company.

Vodafone was also happy for the position to be based in Auckland or Wellington, although applicants were warned that they would need to travel a lot, probably dividing their time between both cities.

Although the position did not require experience in the telecommunications industry, the successful applicant was very familiar with the role.

Roger Ellis had worked for Vodafone rival Telecom since 1995, initially as parliamentary relations executive, then government and community relations manager, then general manager of government relations.

Mr Ellis took up his new role this week, and says he spent most of his time settling into a new culture.

"I was primarily attracted to the job by the organisation's culture," he says.

"I'd been at Telecom for six years and felt it was time for a change, and I like the issues being dealt with by Vodafone."

Mr Ellis, aged in his late 30s, says his knowledge of the telecommunications industry probably helped him to secure the job, as did his background working with Parliament.

"There's a lot to learn to come up to speed in the industry if you don't already know it," he says.

"I'm just enjoying getting to know my new colleagues this week and head off for an induction course next week."

Vodafone says its relationships with the Government are critical to its ability to meet key business objectives and that Mr Ellis' position is pivotal to achieving this.