Departing Chris Quin earns high praise at Spark

New Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin.

Spark chief executive Simon Moutter is parting on great terms with his No 2 executive Chris Quin with appreciation "for a job well done".

Quin has stepped down as chief executive of the company's home, mobile and business unit and will be replaced by marketing specialist Jason Paris, with Rod Snodgrass given extra responsibilities for digital focus.

Quin was the interim chief executive of Spark when he applied for the top job and missed out to Moutter, though the two are understood to have had a good working relationship.

By some accounts it was a close call. Indeed some expect Quin will return to the company one day. Quin has said he will pursue leadership opportunities elsewhere.

Moutter said the company was firmly on track "having made excellent progress across all our key programmes".

"Chris and I have been talking for a while about his desire to progress, so we will part on great terms and he will leave with my full backing and genuine appreciation for a job well done. He will finish up at the end of June 2015," he said.

Both Moutter and Quin are credited with turning Spark into a nimble retail operation.

IDC telecommunications analyst Peter Wise says Spark is a highly focused and transparent company that is succeeding where once it was losing market share.

Paris was Quin's understudy as general manager of the home, mobile and business unit and is given a lot of credit for the branding success of Spark.

Paris is personable, ambitious and has a sharp understanding for marketing and content from his days as chief executive of Mediaworks TV and before that as head of sales and marketing at Television New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Snodgrass will head the new Digital First Programme in conjunction with his existing accountability for Spark Ventures.

Many believe Tim Miles is another executive to watch.

The head of Gen-i used to head Vodafone NZ and went on to be chief operating officer at Vodafone in Britain before returning to New Zealand.

Chief financial officer Jolie Hodson will take on some operational business activities in conjunction with her existing CFO accountabilities.