Oonagh ReidyVodafone CEO Head Up NBN Co
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Bill Morrow to leave Vodafone in 2014 to take up the role of CEO of NBN CoThe appointment was announced today as the Strategic Review of the multibillion dollar project was released, showing previous NBN forecasts, and budgets were far off the mark.
It now appears NBN won’t be completed until 2020, will cost $12 bn more than the Coalition anticipated, and will not deliver on the promised 25mbps by 2016.
Murrow, who joined joined VHA in March 2012, to put out some fires at the troubled network after the Vodafail catastrophe, build a brand new 3G and 4G networks.
The Vodafone Australia CEO will join the NBN Co in the New Year and will be based in Sydney.
“I staunchly believe that this important initiative, done right, will provide a boon to the nation’s economy. The digital revolution is picking up speed. With the right infrastructure and industry collaboration, Australia will reap the benefits for decades to come,” he said.
“While I am sad to be leaving a great company like Vodafone, I am looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and ensuring every Australian is able to benefit from a world class National Broadband Network.”
NBN Co Executive Chairman Dr Ziggy Switkowski said he was “delighted that a senior business leader of the calibre of Bill Morrow has agreed to accept the challenge of delivering the long-promised upgrade to Australia’s broadband infrastructure.
Bill’s experience extends not only to running major telecommunications businesses but, from his time at Clearwire in the US, building a large scale network, he said.
“He possesses the right mix of talent, experience and deep knowledge of the telecommunications industry to ensure NBN Co can get the job done.”
No word on Murrow’s replacement yet.
Vodafone said a further announcement will be made “in due course.”