Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian will take a fresh role at Optus
Optus announced the appointment of Ms. Gladys Berejiklian to the newly created position of Managing Director, Enterprise, Business and Institutional to sharpen its focus on developing a larger share of the multi-billion dollar enterprise, corporate and institutional markets.
Optus Chief Executive Kelly Bayer Rosmarin said Berejiklian has been a proven leader who “has demonstrated her renowned strength, leadership, discipline and composure in successfully leading Australia’s largest state through one of Australia’s greatest challenges in its history.
“She also builds and fosters loyal and dedicated teams who really go above and beyond for her,” Ms Bayer Rosmarin said.
“To deliver on our vision we need to think and do things differently, and we need to attract amazing people who bring diverse experiences and new ways of thinking to our industry”
“I believe she will be a game-changer for Optus. In bringing our business-focused teams together under this newly created role I truly believe that our collective energies can deliver superior customer outcomes in market segments that continue to be dominated by the incumbent.” she said
The decision to appoint Berejiklian surprised some industry insiders, who say Optus had been sounding out rivals in the market about whether to offload its corporate business and focus on its consumer business for about a year.
Berejiklian resigned from politics in October after the state’s independent commission on corruption announced it would investigate whether it had breached public trust over unreported relationships with disgraced ex Wagg Wagg MP and ex-partner Daryl Maguire.
Despite being touted as a Liberal candidate for the Warringah federal headquarters in this year’s election, Ms Berejiklian has stated that she is looking forward to a “private” life away from politics
The position is the first since Berejiklian resigned as NSW prime minister after the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said it was investigating whether she had breached public trust or encouraged corrupt behavior during her relationship with disgraced former MP Daryl Maguire .
Ms Berejiklian presented the evidence last year, but ICAC did not publish its final report.
In December, Ms Berejiklian said federal politics was “not something” she wanted to do
“I’m going in a different direction and I’m looking forward to the opportunities that next year brings,” she said at the time.
Her appointment came the same week that the Strong Communities fund audit report was released, showing that 96 percent of the funds from the $252 million Municipal Grants Program overseen by Ms. Berejiklian and her then-deputy John Barilaro had gone to the electorate. held by the Coalition. . The audit found that Ms. Berejiklian identified 41 projects worth $142 million in funding, despite repeated denials that she was a decision maker in the program.
Speaking about her new appointment, Ms Berejiklian said she was “excited and proud” to join Optus.
“(Optus) impacts the lives of millions of Australians every day and prides itself in providing outstanding customer service,” she said.
“I look forward to working with Kelly and the executive team of Optus who are providing inspiring and innovative leadership in the telco sector.”
Speaking about her new appointment, Ms Berejiklian said she was “excited and proud” to join Optus.
“(Optus) impacts the lives of millions of Australians every day and prides itself in providing outstanding customer service,” she said.
Ms Berejiklian’s successor, Dominic Perrottet, wished her well and said Telstra, as Optus’ competitor, “should be worried today”.
“Gladys will be an asset in any organisation. Not only is she a great leader, but she achieves great outcomes,” he said.
“Her professionalism and diligence will serve her very well.
“It’s a great pick-up.”
Ms Berejiklian was the premier of NSW since January 2017, and previously served as Minister of Transport and Treasurer. Before joining politics, she held senior management positions at the Commonwealth Bank. Bayer Rosmarin of Optus was group director for institutional banking and CBA markets before joining the telecommunications industry in 2019.
In her new role, Ms. Berejiklian will seek to grow the share of telecommunications companies in corporate, commercial and institutional markets.
She will report directly to Ms Bayer Rosmarin. The amount Ms. Berejiklian will earn from working in the private sector has not been disclosed. But the Telstra group’s executive, David Burns, whose role is similar to that of Ms. Berejiklian, had a fixed salary of $1.1 million in 2021, according to the telco’s annual report. His total remuneration package was estimated at $2.6 million. Ms. Berejiklian’s annual salary as prime minister was $407,980.
Ms Berejiklian is the latest former NSW premier to make a move to the private sector, after her predecessor Mike Baird took up a job at NAB in 2017.
During his tenure at the bank, it’s understood his total yearly remuneration reached as high a figure as $2.29m.
He left the bank in 2020, pocketing $1.9m in the process.
Ms Berejiklian will join Optus on 28 February 2022.
