Domestic Executive Countdown: 35 days to go

At last, I'm on the home run to domestic executive life. Only 35 more days to go before I finish my full time contract with MSD. Can't wait.

After months of people being in denial they headhunters have finally been called and the search is on to replace me. They are a bit late in the day but they'll get one of my managers to step up into an acting role until the new person comes along.

So what will I be doing you ask?

I'll be working 20 hours a week for MSD until 7 December working on "special projects". I've always wanted to be a "special projects person" as it seems to me that they swan around doing very little in particular but getting paid for doing so! I've got a few bits and pieces to keep me ticking over and keep on track and that will be fun. In my spare time away from work there is plenty to do:
- a house move
- visitors arriving from 13 December until end of March
- setting up my domestic executive business.

I really don't know where the time has gone but with a countdown now in days I can't help but get excited by the prospects.

MTs career is moving in new ways too - well he's moved his desk from Willis Street to Tory Street! He's finally got his new team set up and can get on with building a new mobile phone network to connect New Zealanders. Rumour has it that they are changing the name of the company to Telepom.......

Telecom New Zealand today announced that Dr Paul Reynolds has been appointed as its Chief Executive Officer, effective from late September 2007.Paul is currently CEO of BT Wholesale, the wholesale business of UK-based telecommunications and IT company BT Group.Paul joined BT in 1983 after completing a doctorate in geology at the University of London. Since then he has had a distinguished career, encompassing senior leadership roles in sales and marketing, strategy, information systems, broadband, and guiding BT’s wholesale business through the complex process of operational separation, when Openreach was created. He has served on BT’s Board of Directors since 2001.

Paul will succeed Theresa Gattung, who leaves Telecom on Friday after twelve years at the company, the past eight as the company’s CEO.Simon Moutter has been appointed as acting CEO until Paul Reynolds formally takes up his role. Simon has held a variety of roles at Telecom, including that of Chief Operating Officer, and has a deep understanding of the business. Chairman Wayne Boyd said he and the Telecom Board were delighted, after a global recruitment process, to have secured the appointment of Paul Reynolds.“Globally there are few leaders in the telecommunications industry with Paul’s combination of skills, knowledge and experience,” Mr Boyd said.“Paul has led programmes of significant change at one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies, in a regulatory environment that has parallels to New Zealand’s.”

In 2006, the Telecommunications Industry Association of America awarded Dr Reynolds its ‘Global Icon’ award for his leadership and innovation.“Given his senior contribution at BT, in a wide variety of roles, Paul is ideally placed to lead one of Australasia’s most significant telecommunications and IT companies at this time.”Paul Reynolds said he and his family were looking forward to coming to live in New Zealand.“I’m passionate about the telecommunications industry and its power to transform the way people interact, live, work and play.“I’ve been a keen observer of the New Zealand experience, and am now looking forward to leading a company that will help to shape the country’s future.”Paul Reynolds will be based in Auckland and commence his new role at Telecom in late-September