KEY POINTS:
Telecom chief executive Paul Reynolds joined the company at the end of September after more than 20 years with British phone giant BT.
He takes over from former CEO Theresa Gattung at a time when the company is coming under increasing regulatory pressure aimed at boosting competition in
the telecommunications market.
How would you describe 2007 for yourself and Telecom?
2007 has been a huge change in my life. Coming half way round the world is a big change and it's been a fantastic one.
It's a great company and I find myself working with a great bunch of people. I just can't wait to get on with it and get our plans in place to serve our customers.
I think 2007 is the year Telecom has made some very, very major commitments to the future, both in terms of the technologies and the networks - the broadband and the mobile networks we're building - as well as commitments to the Government as part of our undertakings, which is really going to help us drive and build the business over the next three or four years.
So it's been a real change for the business and it's been a year of commitment and the next few years will be the time when we meet those commitments.
What was the company's greatest achievement?
Our biggest achievement has been coming out with a really fantastic set of undertakings which we think are world-beating in the sense of now being committed to delivering fast broadband services, fibre-rich broadband services to all towns of 500 or more. That's a fantastic commitment. You won't find that in any market in the world and it means promising a future for New Zealanders of fast broadband that you won't see in any OECD countries with whom we're often compared.
And greatest disappointment?
No. That's been a big success. I think it's been a year of huge change and commitment and I won't say any major disappointments, it's been more of commitments and we'll be delighted to get that finished and get on with it.
What will be the major challenges in 2008?
2008 in Telecom is now getting our undertakings on the road. In March of this year we'll be launching our ANS [Access Network] service. We're already well advanced in the structures, people and branding of that new business. It will be a major new business on the streets of New Zealand and customers will come to know it will stand for great service for end consumers and business. It will stand for great services for the telecommunications industry.
The whole industry is going through a lot of change. We're going to see a lot of new products and propositions, some new faces and some new players and we welcome that because this is an era of choice. Customers are going to get more choice and I'm looking forward to competing in that world of choice.
What was the most interesting business story of 2007?
I think the most interesting business development over the past year has been the way the online businesses have moved from being start-ups, plucky and growing new businesses, to being, if you like, the giants of modern business.
The Googles of this world illustrate the power of broadband, the power of the internet.
The reach to customers that can be got from great broadband and great internet.
I'm sure Google's the first but not the last of the great modern businesses to be built on this base and I'm really glad to be part of that industry.
That's the story of 2007, to be sure.
Where are you going for the holidays?
I am going back to the UK for a couple of weeks. My family are packing up and ready to come out and join me in New Zealand. I've been living a bit of a bachelor existence for three months and have been able to get stuck into the job. My wife and son will be coming to New Zealand in the New Year and Gordon will be starting school at Kings.
What will you be reading?
I will be reading the New Zealand Herald Weekend edition.
