At 6 ft 7 in tall, the first thing that strikes you about Dr Paul Reynolds, Telecom’s new CEO, is that he towers over everyone in the room. Dressed in a dark suit with no tie, he quietly submits to the photographer’s instructions to the turn, sit, stand and smile. Just off the plane from Britain the night before Reynolds has been thrown headlong into a round of media interviews and publicity shots.
Also in the room is Telecom chairman Wayne Boyd, whose grinning widely. He’s absolutely delighted that the man from BT had decided to join the company. As we wait for the photographer to finish he says the combination his regulatory experience with operational separation (and the establishment of network arm OpenReach) together with his experience in building BT’s 21st century network is what made Reynolds the top candidate.
They were certainly keen to lure him from Britain, bringing him on a tour of New Zealand last month in an effort to sell, not only the company but the entire country. It was the first time he’d been here, Reynolds tells me, but obviously it was enough for him to uproot his wife and teenage son and relocate halfway around world. His twin daughters will remain at university in Britain.
Although he doesn’t officially start until September, Reynolds has been flown out here for a couple days to meet key media, staff and other stakeholders. Oh and TUANZ too, I had a five minute chat with him to find out what his relationship with the user will be like.
He wasn’t to be drawn on issues about regulatory issues or the company’s future direction as he intends to listen to a wide range of views within the New Zealand sector first. But in a lilting Scottish accent he told me that customers will come first:
“I want to work with my customers, to all groups that represent users and customers. The real thing is to focus on what they want and if we respond to that well, get that right then the shareholders and other stakeholders will take care of themselves.”
He says that he’s worked closely with user groups in the past and he intends to listen and keep an open mind about TUANZ’s concerns.
“It’s really, really simple, its starts with talking, for me that will be talking to different users groups and listening to what they have to say on the big issues. I don’t know if I’ll agree with them all but I’ll listen and I’ll take them seriously."
When I asked him why he wanted to uproot his family and move to New Zealand he said: “Jobs like this only come along once in a blue moon. The chance to lead a major telecom is a rare one and I’m delighted to have the opportunity.”
Reynolds has more than 24 years in the telecommunication industry and is currently CEO of BT Wholesale. He has been a member of the BT Board since 2001. He first joined the company in 1983 after completing a doctorate in geology at the University of London. Last year the Telecommunications Industry Association of America awarded Dr Reynolds its 'Global Icon' award for his leadership and innovation.