Telstra COO Kate McKenzie retires

Telstra COO Kate McKenzie has announced her decision to retire from the role after 12 years with the company.

McKenzie joined Telstra in 2004 as head of the company’s regulatory group. She has been a member of Telstra’s leadership team since 2007 and COO since 2013.

As COO, McKenzie led the company’s field services, IT and network architecture and operations.

Prior to this, she was group managing director for Telstra Innovation, Products and Marketing, leading product units including mobiles, fixed voice and broadband, network applications and services, data and IP, the NBN team and the chief technology office.

“It has been a wonderful 12 years with Telstra and I am very proud of all the people I have worked with and what we have achieved together,” McKenzie said in a statement.

“The time is right for me to change direction in my career. I leave knowing that Telstra, under Andy Penn’s leadership, has a great strategy for the future and wish the company, its people and its shareholders every success.”

Telstra’s group executive for global enterprise and services Brendon Riley has been named interim COO while a permanent replacement is found. Riley was Telstra’s COO between 2011 and 2013.

Image courtesy Telstra.