What happened: Top Telus executive Josh Blair has announced he’s leaving the company
Why it matters: Blair was thought to be a possible successor to CEO Darren Entwistle
A leadership shakeup is afoot at Telus Corp. (TSX:T) following the departure of one of its highest-profile executives.
The Vancouver-based telecom announced Thursday (September 26) group president and chief corporate officer Josh Blair would exit by year’s end.
Blair, who joined Telus in the 1990s as an engineer-in-training, has served as an executive for 12 years and was viewed as a possible successor to CEO Darren Entwistle.
Entwistle briefly retired from the CEO job in 2014, taking the role of executive chairman of Telus, before returning to his former position the following year to replace his own successor, Joe Natale.
Natale went on to take the job of CEO at Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.A) in 2017.
Telus said in a press release that Blair would be spending time with his family and travelling before pursuing other job opportunities.
But he’s not completely removing himself from Telus.
Blair, who has long overseen Telus’ digital health division, will take the role of chair emeritus of Telus health upon his departure.
He will also remain chair of Telus International.
“I am deeply grateful to Darren and the Telus team for what has been an exceptional 25 years for me,” Blair said in a statement.
“Telus has been a wonderful part of my life since university, and our shared values, including giving back to our communities with so much heart and commitment, have played an important role as my wife and I have raised our two sons over the past two decades.”
