As restructuring bites in the upper echelons at Telecom, one of Theresa Gattung's key advisers has resigned.
Head of public affairs John Goulter is due to leave in January in the latest in a string of changes to the Telecom communications division. The previous head of public affairs,Philip King, left after the debacle over the leak of cabinet papers to Telecom.
Since King's resignation, the communications operation has been split, with media relations reporting to the company's general counsel Mark Verbiest, an unusual overseer for a division usually regarded as part of marketing, not legal affairs.
Apart from media relations, the rest of the department has been broken up and linked with different departments.
Inside Telecom, Goulter's departure is seen as significant because he has been in such regular contact with Gattung, helping her to defend her position against growing criticism from media and competitors.
An insider familiar with Telecom's internal workings said: "Telecom is a big company with a very central high profile chief executive.
"It acts like a royal court - and John [Goulter] was one of Theresa's most important courtiers."
Goulter was press secretary to former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley and joined Telecom six years ago.
He intends setting up his own communications consultancy next year. He said Telecom was now seeking a new head of public affairs.
Government relations head Bruce Parkes is leaving this month to become head of public relations for energy firm Contact.
In other changes to Telecom's communications team, media adviser Sean Martin has resigned and consumer sponsorship manager Peter Parussini has been in negotiations with TVNZ.
