Optus Names NBN Co CEO Stephen Rue as New Chief Executive

Optus, one of Australia‘s leading telecommunications brands, has announced the appointment of Stephen Rue as its new chief executive officer. Rue, who currently serves as the CEO of NBN Co, will be taking over the reins from the former Optus CEO, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin.

Rue’s tenure at NBN Co has been marked by significant milestones, overseeing the completion of the national broadband network rollout. The decision for Rue to transition to Optus comes as the telco looks to reset its strategy and rebuild customer trust following recent challenges.

Optus Chairman, Paul O'Sullivan, expressed confidence in Rue’s appointment, highlighting his operational and financial background. O’Sullivan mentioned that Rue’s experience in setting up the digital backbone of Australia will be instrumental in reinvigorating Optus as the country’s leading challenger telecommunications brand.

Rue’s appointment follows a period of interim leadership at Optus, overseen by Michael Venter, since the departure of Kelly Bayer Rosmarin. Following her exit, Optus’ parent company, Singtel, brought in Peter Kaliaropoulos to fill the newly-created role of chief operating officer.

As part of the leadership changes, NBN Co will be appointing Phil Knox, the chief financial officer, as the interim CEO until a permanent replacement is found. Rue’s transition to Optus marks a significant shift in the telecom landscape, with his focus now turning towards enhancing service standards and providing strong competition in the industry.

In a statement, Stephen Rue expressed his eagerness to lead Optus towards accelerated transformation, ensuring that Australians have a robust alternative telecoms provider. Rue will now report to Optus’ Australian subsidiary board and chairman, symbolizing a new chapter in the company’s trajectory.