Telstra has appointed Stephen Elop its new Group Executive Technology, Innovation and Strategy, a newly created role. The Australian operator said Elop will be responsible for leading Telstra’s strategy to become a world class technology company. He will report directly to CEO Andrew Penn and be based jointly in the US and Australia.
Elop has held global executive roles with Nokia, Microsoft, Juniper, Adobe and Macromedia, including CEO of Nokia for three years, from 2010 to 2013. He will start at Telstra on 4 April.
The operator has also hired Kevin Russell to lead Telstra Retail, the company’s consumer, business, stores and product functions. Russell has held executive roles for SingTel Optus, most recently as country chiefoOfficer and CEO Consumer, Australia, as well as senior positions at Hutchison Whampoa Group in Australia and internationally. Russell will report directly to Penn.
