This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/12/mike-quigley-retires-national-broadband
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| NBN chief Mike Quigley retires | NBN chief Mike Quigley retires |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Mike Quigley will retire from corporate life after four years heading the introduction of the National Broadband Network. | Mike Quigley will retire from corporate life after four years heading the introduction of the National Broadband Network. |
| The announcement comes just a few months after Quigley signed a three-year contract to stay in the role as head of NBN Co, the company building and operating the national broadband network. | The announcement comes just a few months after Quigley signed a three-year contract to stay in the role as head of NBN Co, the company building and operating the national broadband network. |
| "My job was to lay the foundations for the NBN for the next 30 years. That job is largely complete," Quigley, who came out of retirement to take the position, said on Friday. | "My job was to lay the foundations for the NBN for the next 30 years. That job is largely complete," Quigley, who came out of retirement to take the position, said on Friday. |
| Quigley's departure follows weeks of rumours of infighting within the company and speculation the board was looking to replace him. Pressure on Quigley increased as NBN rollout targets were not met. | |
| It was reported in May that NBN Co chair Siobhan McKenna had approached fellow board members to test support for Quigley. | It was reported in May that NBN Co chair Siobhan McKenna had approached fellow board members to test support for Quigley. |
| However, Quigley told Fairfax his relationship with McKenna is "a good one". | However, Quigley told Fairfax his relationship with McKenna is "a good one". |
| ''I started on this thing four years ago. I am not going to be here when it finishes in 2021. I will choose my retirement when I choose it," he said at the time. | ''I started on this thing four years ago. I am not going to be here when it finishes in 2021. I will choose my retirement when I choose it," he said at the time. |
| Federal broadband minister, Anthony Albanese conceded Quigly's time hadn't always been smooth sailing, but said it was absurd to suggest the government had anything to do with his leaving. | |
| "No one does everything perfectly in terms of the creation of a major infrastructure project," he told media in Sydney. | |
| Albanese would not confirm when asked on Friday afternoon whether the NBN board would appoint a replacement before the election. | |
| Opposition spokesman for communication and broadband Malcolm Turnbull told ABC radio he would be "amazed" if a new CEO was appointed so near the election. | |
| "That would be an act of hubris and recklessness... I would be astonished if they were going to do that," he said. | |
| A joint statement on Friday morning from Albanese, and the finance minister, Penny Wong, thanked NBN Co's "first employee" for his contribution and said Quigley was ''instrumental in negotiating the deal with Telstra which has paved the way for the NBN rollout". | |
| The statement added that Quigley was "eager to join the project because he understood the importance of nation-building infrastructure that is essential for our nation's economic future. Mr Quigley can be tremendously proud of what he has achieved." | The statement added that Quigley was "eager to join the project because he understood the importance of nation-building infrastructure that is essential for our nation's economic future. Mr Quigley can be tremendously proud of what he has achieved." |
| But Turnbull told media that Quigley's retirement was "a case of the company being utterly leaderless". | |
| McKenna "has been seeking to get rid of Quigley for some time", Turnbull said. "He has been pushed out the door." | McKenna "has been seeking to get rid of Quigley for some time", Turnbull said. "He has been pushed out the door." |
| Quigley will continue in the position until a successor is appointed by the board, according to NBN Co's statement. | Quigley will continue in the position until a successor is appointed by the board, according to NBN Co's statement. |
| McKenna said the company was "fortunate" to have had Quigley as chief executive and credited him with taking "NBN Co from a policy vision to a successful operating entity. The directors are proud of Mike's achievements and welcome his decision to remain in his post to ensure a smooth transition to his successor." | McKenna said the company was "fortunate" to have had Quigley as chief executive and credited him with taking "NBN Co from a policy vision to a successful operating entity. The directors are proud of Mike's achievements and welcome his decision to remain in his post to ensure a smooth transition to his successor." |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. |