Andrew Penn appointed Chief Financial Officer - Media Announcement – About Telstra

Andrew Penn appointed Chief Financial Officer - Media Announcement – About Telstra:

Telstra today announced that Andrew Penn has been appointed Chief Financial Officer and Group Managing Director, Finance, from 1 March 2012.

Mr Penn is an experienced chief executive and chief financial officer with a career spanning more than thirty years, the past twenty at AXA Asia Pacific in a variety of finance, strategy and executive roles, most recently Group Chief Executive.

“I am delighted to welcome Andy to this critical position. Andy has extensive experience in Australia and overseas, a proven track record of success as a Chief Financial Officer, and a demonstrated ability to create shareholder value in complex businesses,” Chief Executive Officer David Thodey said.

Mr Penn was Group CEO of AXA Asia Pacific from 2006 until 2011. Over twenty years at AXA he held a variety of roles including CEO of the Australia and New Zealand business, Chief Operations Officer, Head of Transformation, and Chief Executive of Asia. He previously held roles at the P&O Shipping Group.

Most of Mr Penn’s previous roles have had strong corporate finance responsibilities. He has successfully led value-adding transactions in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North America and across Asia.

Mr Penn will be a member of Telstra’s CEO leadership team and will report to Mr Thodey. He will be based in Melbourne.

“I am looking forward to joining the team at Telstra and I am very excited by this great opportunity in a dynamic industry,” Mr Penn said.

Telstra also announced that Mark Hall will be acting Chief Financial Officer and Group Managing Director, Finance, from 1 January to 29 February 2012. Mr Hall is currently Deputy CFO.

Mr Thodey thanked retiring CFO, John Stanhope, for his service to the company over a career spanning more than four decades, including eight years as Chief Financial Officer and Group Managing Director, Finance & Administration.

“On behalf of his colleagues, I would like to acknowledge John’s enormous contribution to our company over four decades, and wish him and his family the very best for the future,” Mr Thodey concluded.