Telstra promotes consumer expert to CFO

Consumer expert and former marketing function leader, Vicki Brady, has been appointed CFO and head of strategy for Telstra.

The former group executive, consumer and small business, will take the role following a break to look after her health late last year. Brady has previously held the role of managing director of marketing and product, and managing director of customer, at Optus.

This new appointment follows a shake-up of the Telstra executive last year, which saw Joe Pollard, its chief marketing officer and group executive for media, leaving after more than three years, along with the CFO, Warwick Bray, chief technology office and corporate strategy group leaders, Stephen Elop; and group executive of Telstra Wholesale, Will Irving.

Telstra CEO, Andy Penn, said Brady will start her new role on 1 July. Acting group executive, Michael Ackland, will be permanently appointed to lead the consumer and small business function. Current CFO, Robyn Denholm, will assist Brady with her transition to the new role.

“I am very pleased to have Vicki in the CFO role. She is an experienced executive leader, with strong achievements in telecommunications, alongside a sound financial background. She has a Bachelor of Commerce from the Australia National University, a Masters from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants A/NZ,” Penn said.

“Having started her career with KPMG, Vicki subsequently worked in a range of finance, commercial and strategy roles before moving into broader business leadership positions. She was appointed group executive, Consumer and Small Business, in September 2017 after joining Telstra in 2016. She made a significant contribution in this role including her work in developing our new go to market plans as part of the T22 strategy.

“It is testament to the strength of our internal talent that we were able to appoint Vicki as CFO and head of strategy, and have Michael continuing permanently as group executive, Consumer and Small Business, a role he has being acting in since September last year." 

Penn said Ackland had also been instrumental in driving T22 changes for customers announced last year. "He has significant experience delivering the right outcomes for customers, alongside strong results for Telstra,” he said. 

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