Telstra retail boss resigns after short stint in the job

Telstra head of retail Karsten Wildberger has resigned after less than two months in the job.

Wildberger is leaving the telco for ‘personal reasons’ and will return to Germany around the middle of next year to take up an executive role outside the telecommunications industry.

Wildberger was appointed to the retail role when Telstra undertook a management reshuffle after of the resignation of Gordon Ballantyne. Wildberger, who had been an executive in Telstra’s consumer division since 2013, replaced Ballantyne as retail group executive.

Telstra CEO Andy Penn announced Wildberger’s resignation this morning, saying he was sorry that Dr Wildberger would be leaving Telstra, “as he was a very capable telecommunications executive who had contributed to Telstra’s progress”.

“Karsten is a great executive.  We will be disappointed to see him go but understand his personal reasons.  Karsten brings great energy and passion to our business and has significant global experience.”

Penn said a successor to Wildberger will be announced in the near future.

Wildberger is a former partner and managing director with The Boston Consulting Group and held Executive Vice President roles in Finance, Sales and Marketing for Deutsche Telekom in the UK and Germany. He also worked with Vodafone as an executive and interim CEO in Romania and is a Director of the Telstra Foundation and Telstra Ventures.

The Telstra Retail business includes consumer and business divisions, product and digital business units with broader enterprise-wide responsibilities and a strong focus on customer advocacy.  The division is responsible for a significant portion of the Telstra’s revenue and profit.

In a brief statement, Wildberger said “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Telstra and in Australia and am excited by the company’s prospects.

“I was privileged to be selected by Andy Penn to lead the retail team.  I am grateful to this incredible company, its people and its customers for three years of achievement and inspiration.”