Safe appointment

New Zealand-born businessman, David Thodey, 54, has been appointed the new chief executive of Australia’s Telstra Corporation, taking over the role from controversial out-going head, Solomon Trujillo. Thodey, who has been with Telstra since 2001, was previously head of the group’s business and government customer divisions. Telstra is looking to a more positive relationship with the Federal Government after appointing Thodey and new chairman Catherine Livingstone, who they hope will steer the telco giant through tough markets and threats to some of its revenue lines. Thodey is also the chairman of TelstraClear in New Zealand and chairman of Basketball Australia.