Senior Telstra Executive Quits

The controversial head of Telstra's communication division Dr Phil Burgess has quit and is returning to the USA.

A US national Burgess got right up the noses of the Howard government in particular former Communications Minister Helen Coonan.

The former Telstra public policy chief transformed Telstra from being a "toe the government line" organisation to one that had a voice and was not afraid of disagreeing with government policy decisions.

Telstra's Chief Executive Officer, Sol Trujillo said "I have always valued Phil's advice and his principled approach to public policy and communications. Phil has great integrity and has not been afraid to show leadership, often speaking the truth even when it was inconvenient for established interests to hear it," Mr Trujillo said.

"Phil has consistently spoken out with great passion and courage, articulating how a national high-speed broadband network would produce enormous benefits for communities and the national economy.

"Phil has made a very large positive impact on the culture and success of Telstra, and like all employees I am grateful to him for the leadership he showed." Mr Trujillo announced that the new Group Managing Director, Public Policy & Communications, would be David Quilty, who has been Telstra's Director of Government Relations since January 2006.