Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin quits after nationwide network outage

Key PointsOptus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin has quit the telco.In a statement, she said it was an appropriate time to step down.Optus has appointed an interim CEO and says it’s looking at “renewal”.

Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin has tendered her resignation, the company’s parent Singapore Telecommunications said on Monday.

It came less than two weeks after an Optus

without phone or internet for 12 hours.

Bayer Rosmarin fronted a Senate hearing last Friday where she was asked about her future at the telco following the outage.

In a statement on Monday, Bayer Rosmarin said that it had been an “honour” to work as CEO but that “it was an appropriate time to step down”.

“On Friday I had the opportunity to appear before the Senate to expand on the cause of the network outage and how Optus recovered and responded. I was also able to communicate Optus’ commitment to restore trust and continue to serve customers,” she said.

“Having now had time for some personal reflection, I have come to the decision that my resignation is in the best interest of Optus moving forward.

“It’s been an honour and privilege to lead the team at Optus and to serve our customers. I am proud of the team’s many achievements, and grateful for the support of the Optus team, (Singtel Group CEO Yuen Kuan) Moon, and the Group. I wish everyone and the company every success in the future.”

Yuen said the parent company acknowledged Bayer Rosmarin’s “leadership, commitment and hard work” throughout a “challenging period”.

He said Optus would be focused on a path of “renewal”.

“We understand her decision and wish her the very best in her future endeavours,” Yuen said.

“We recognise the need for Optus to regain customer trust and confidence as the team works through the impact and consequences of the recent outage and continues to improve.

“We view the events in recent weeks very seriously.”

Optus has appointed chief financial officer Michael Venter as interim CEO.

Peter Kaliaropoulos was appointed to a new position of chief operating officer, SingTel added.

Bayer Rosmarin was asked repeatedly during the Senate hearing about her future. She told senators on Friday her focus was on “restoring the outage issue”.

PM: Optus outage a ‘shocker’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called Optus’ network-wide outage a “shocking” and “regrettable incident” on Monday, and that it was “not surprising” Bayer Rosmarin had resigned.

“We’ve set up, as well, an analysis that we’ll have of what are the lessons from this,” Albanese said while appearing on Sky News. “We’ll be transparent about sending that message through to the private sector as well as to the public sector.

“We’ll be doing further work on the range of issues, including cybersecurity this week, of course, as well. We’ve been working with the private sector for some time, but clearly this was just a complete fail.”

Sarah Hanson-Young, who chaired last week’s Senate hearing on the outage, thanked Bayer Rosmarin for resigning.

“When you’re running a big telco company like this, that is effectively an essential service, there is a public expectation that you front up and take responsibility. That is what the CEO has now done,” Hanson-Young said.

Optus managing director networks Lambo Kanagaratnam and CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin at the Senate hearing last Friday. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

During the 12-hour network outage on 8 November, Australian individuals and businesses were unable to make calls, access the internet or complete transactions.

Hundreds of Australians were unable to make emergency calls during the Optus outage and the telco still doesn’t know why.

Bayer Rosmarin revealed at last Friday’s hearing that 228 calls to triple zero failed to go through during the 12-hour outage.

Optus has also received inquiries from 8,500 customers and small businesses with roughly $430,000 of compensation under discussion.

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