Skinny phone boss moves on

Telecom took its Skinny brand to more than 50 events this summer, including at Mt Maunganui. Photo / Supplied

The boss of Telecom's youth-focused mobile brand "Skinny" is no longer with the company just six months after its launch.

According to a Telecom spokesperson, Skinny boss Paul O'Shannessey has left the company "to pursue other opportunities."

"Paul has been instrumental is the successful entry of Skinny into the youth market and establishing a strong brand. We look forward to Skinny moving into an exciting new phase of commercial growth" said Telecom retail chief executive Alan Gourdie.

Skinny has refused in the past to reveal how many customer it has gained since its launch in January.

After soft-launching at Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne, Skinny has pushed its brand at more than 50 events over summer.

But one of its marketing attempts at a skateboarding competition in Victoria Park during March backfired following vandalism and allegations of assault.

While the sub-brand began only pushing itself through social-media channels and at events, it has recently made the shift to more traditional (and expensive) avenues such as television.