The future is friendly at Telus but apparently so is the past, as the telecom’s former CEO and president Darren Entwisle has been reinstated into his former role, effective immediately.
Entwistle transitioned out of the position in May 2014, moving instead into the newly formed position of executive chairman.
Joe Natale took over from Entwistle right away, moving away from his role as the company’s chief commercial officer.
At the time Natale was appointed president and CEO in 2014, he was based in Toronto and the plan was for him to remain there until 2017, at which point he would move to Western Canada, where Telus is headquartered.
Telus said Entwistle’s return to the helm was related to the fact Natale recently announced he was unwilling to move from Toronto to British Columbia. Natale’s decision was made for personal reasons, Telus said.
“Mr. Natale recently indicated that a move to Western Canada would not work for him and his family for several years, and the board determined that the company would be best served by having its chief executive officer reside in the West,” Telus said in an August 10 news release.
“It has always been the intent of the board that Telus’ leadership team should reside across Canada with our most senior management position being in Western Canada,” said chief corporate officer Josh Blair in a statement emailed to Business in Vancouver. “To this end, the board expected that Joe would move west in 2017 when Darren progressed into a non-executive chair capacity.
“Joe recently indicated that a move to Western Canada would not work for him and his family for several years which resulted in an extensive review by the Board and the chosen path forward.”
Natale will move into an executive, non-board position until the end of the year. The company said this was to facilitate the leadership transition.
In addition to these changes, Dick Auchinleck has stepped into the role of Telus’ independent chair.
Entwistle and Auchinlech have agreed to stay in their new roles “on a long-term basis.”
This news comes three days after Telus reported a 10% drop in profit relating in large part to the closure of its Black’s Photography retail store chain.
- With files from Tyler Orton
