Cooney changes channels and shifts from Foxtel to TPG

Foxtel’s chief customer, marketing and sales officer, Kieren Cooney, is returning from pay TV back to his telecommunications roots and joining TPG group as group executive of consumer from March.

The role sees Cooney reporting directly to TPG’s CEO, Inaki Berroeta, and joining the ISP giant’s executive team. The role involves leading commercial strategy for consumer across the company’s brand portfolio, which includes TPG, Vodafone, iiNet, Internode, AAPT and Lebara.

His appointment comes as the group also confirmed Vodafone and Lebara chief customer officer, Ana Bordeianu, is leaving the business over coming months after a three-year stint. It also follows the $15 billion merger between Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) and TPG, which was given the regulatory go-ahead in early 2020 and was completed in mid-2020. The combined group saw VHA change its name to TPG Telecom in June 2020 and the combined group re-commence ASX trading from 30 June 2020.

Credit: TPG

Cooney has spent the past two-and-half years at Foxtel as chief customer, marketing and sales officer. He was previously the chief marketing and content officer for REA Group for two years. Cooney’s resume also includes CEO and managing director roles with Omnicom’s Interbrand business, plus marketing leadership roles with NBN Co and Telecom New Zealand and general management positions at leading Edge group, Vodafone and Touchpoint Group.

In a statement, Berroeta highlighted Cooney’s credentials as one of Australia’s leading marketing executives as a key reason for his appointment at TPG.

“He is a transformational change leader, most recently driving customer and sales growth at Foxtel while navigating the sales and marketing functions through digital disruption,” he commented. “Kieren has extensive corporate experience across the media, digital and telecommunications sectors in Australia and New Zealand, including Vodafone New Zealand earlier in his career.

“We always said that we would be a stronger force in the market as a result of the merger, and I’m excited about Kieren’s leadership of our brand and product teams.”

Foxtel, meanwhile, has announced Hilary Perchard as its new chief customer, marketing and revenue officer, replacing Cooney and reporting to group CEO, Patrick Delany. He joins from interactive entertainment company, Activision Blizzard, where he was chief revenue officer. He’s also previously worked for Fox US as president of strategy, revenue and marketing, digital and direct-to-consumer, and was a long-serving employee at Sky UK leading departments such as customer marketing, customer retention, loyalty, product management and product marketing.

Perchard will commence the role in March. Delaney said he was delighted to have someone of his experience and track record joining the business. Perchard will gain end-to-end responsibility for all customer interactions, including Foxtel residential and commercial sales, customer service, loyalty, creative services, marketing and publicity.  

Delany also thanked Cooney for his contribution over the last two-and-a-half years, highlighting his work to help transform Foxtel’s operating model for sales, service and marketing and resetting the premium Foxtel business strategy.

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