Theresa Gattung
Encyclopedia
Theresa Gattung is a former CEO of Telecom New Zealand
.
Gattung was educated at McKillop College, Rotorua
, the University of Waikato
(Bachelor of Management Studies in marketing
) and Victoria University of Wellington
(Bachelor of Laws)
Gattung worked in senior marketing roles at National Mutual and at the Bank of New Zealand
before taking up a similar role at Telecom. In April 1996, she became Telecom's Group General Manager Services. In October 1999, she took over from Rod Deane
as Telecom's CEO
.
In March 2006, Gattung courted controversy by characterising telco
s to a Sydney
audience as not "straight up" with customers on pricing. "Think about pricing," the press quoted her as saying. "What has every telco in the world done in the past? It's used confusion as its chief marketing tool. And that's fine ... But at some level, whether they consciously articulate or not, customers know that's what the game has been. They know we're not being straight up."
On February 2, 2007, Gattung announced that she would leave Telecom at the end of June 2007. She was replaced by Scotsman Dr Paul Reynolds from BT
.
In 2006 the Forbes
list of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women" ranked Gattung at number 49. In 2007 she "just missed making" the list.
Telecom New Zealand
Telecom New Zealand is a New Zealand-wide communications service provider , providing fixed line telephone services, a mobile network, an internet service provider , a major ICT provider to NZ businesses , and a wholesale network infrastructure provider to other NZ CSPs...
.
Gattung was educated at McKillop College, Rotorua
John Paul College, Rotorua
John Paul College is a secondary school in Rotorua, New Zealand. It caters for year 7 to 13 boys and girls and offers a Catholic education to its students. It was opened in 1987 and combined two existing schools, Edmund Rice College and MacKillop College . The school was founded to serve the...
, the University of Waikato
University of Waikato
The University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964. It has strengths across a broad range of subject areas, particularly its degrees in Computer Science and in Management...
(Bachelor of Management Studies in marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
) and Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
(Bachelor of Laws)
Gattung worked in senior marketing roles at National Mutual and at the Bank of New Zealand
Bank of New Zealand
Bank of New Zealand is one of New Zealand’s largest banks and has been operating continuously in the country since the first office was opened in Auckland in October 1861 followed shortly after by the first branch in Dunedin in December 1861...
before taking up a similar role at Telecom. In April 1996, she became Telecom's Group General Manager Services. In October 1999, she took over from Rod Deane
Roderick Deane
Roderick Sheldon "Rod" Deane is a New Zealand economist, public sector reformer, and businessman. He has served as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, and as CEO and chairman of the country's largest telecommunications company, Telecom New Zealand.-Education:Deane grew up in...
as Telecom's CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
.
In March 2006, Gattung courted controversy by characterising telco
Telephone company
A telephone company is a service provider of telecommunications services such as telephony and data communications access. Many were at one time nationalized or state-regulated monopolies...
s to a Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
audience as not "straight up" with customers on pricing. "Think about pricing," the press quoted her as saying. "What has every telco in the world done in the past? It's used confusion as its chief marketing tool. And that's fine ... But at some level, whether they consciously articulate or not, customers know that's what the game has been. They know we're not being straight up."
On February 2, 2007, Gattung announced that she would leave Telecom at the end of June 2007. She was replaced by Scotsman Dr Paul Reynolds from BT
BT Group
BT Group plc is a global telecommunications services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest telecommunications services companies in the world and has operations in more than 170 countries. Through its BT Global Services division it is a major supplier of...
.
In 2006 the Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
list of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women" ranked Gattung at number 49. In 2007 she "just missed making" the list.
External links
- TheresaGattung.com Theresa Gattung Official Website
- New Zealand Herald "Gattung admits Telcos not being straight"
- News.com.au "Telecom boss to step down"
- New Zealand Herald "The Paul Holmes interview: Theresa Gattung"