Telstra's Group Executive of Business Support and Improvement, Robert Nason, will retire after championing an historic productivity and customer advocacy agenda across Telstra.

Mr Nason, 60, was the Telstra executive responsible for establishing a multi-year, multi-billion dollar productivity program and led the introduction of the Net Promoter System into Telstra to drive focus on customer advocacy.

Chief Executive Officer David Thodey today said Mr Nason had been a critical player in Telstra's shift in customer, market and employee perceptions and would be sorely missed.

"Robert has taken on many of our large, complex, difficult opportunities during the past five years and made them into strategic opportunities for Telstra and tangible benefits for our customers and shareholders," Mr Thodey said.

"He has been in tireless pursuit of waste, inefficiency and frustration to make it easier for us to do business and easier for people to do business with us.

"Robert led us to introduce NPS in July 2012 which is now embedded in the way Telstra people work to serve and delight customers. These changes have been historic in our transition."

Mr Nason said he felt the time was right to explore opportunities for non-executive director roles, having been part of such a significant improvement and change program for five years.

"While the task can never be regarded as completed, Telstra has made strong progress on the productivity and service agenda. It has a deeply entrenched focus on improving the experience for our customers and a strong team capable of taking it forward," he said.

Mr Nason joined Telstra in February 2010 from Tabcorp where he was Managing Director, Wagering responsible for Tabcorp's race wagering and media businesses, including Sky Channel and Sydney radio station 2KY. He joined Tabcorp in June 2006 after holding the position of Chief Executive of Racing Victoria for more than two years.

Prior to this, he spent nearly two decades in telecommunications or related industries. This included holding the positions of Vice President & General Manager of Global Industries with Electronic Data Systems Corporation in the U.S. and Executive Vice President at AT Kearney.

Mr Nason held senior leadership positions at Coopers & Lybrand and KPMG where his area of speciality was Communications, Media and Entertainment in Australia and overseas. He joined the Foxtel Board of Directors in March 2012 and was named Chairman in May 2012.

Mr Thodey said replacement arrangements for Mr Nason would be determined in the near future. Mr Nason will continue in his role for several months then provide transition support and other assistance within the business, including maintaining his FOXTEL responsibilities, before leaving in October.

Media contact: Jason Laird, +61 (0) 488 126823
Email: media@team.telstra.com

Reference Number: 065/2015

distributed by