New WA manager for Optus

CABLE and Wireless Optus has appointed a new general manager for its WA branch.

Richard Thorning takes over from Mike Ryan, who is going to retire but is likely to stay on in another position for a few months.

Previously, Mr Thorning was general manger operations for Optus

In his new role he is responsible for customers’ overall geographic satisfaction, business growth, human resources and for positioning the company as the telecommunications pro-vider of choice in the community. Mr Thorning is optimistic about Optus’ presence in the WA market.

“WA is a major growth opportunity for our business – it is a great opportunity to increase our market share and our products and services,” he said.

“The expansion of our e-business will see that we do very much of this in conjunction with Curtin.”

Mr Thorning is among the board which will oversee the partnership between Cable and Wireless Optus and Curtin University of Technology.

The two organisations will partner in e-Business projects and establish an Executive Briefing Centre as part of the university.

“The research will focus on strengthening our e-Business products and services, and we will be able to offer strategic advice to Optus customers,” Chris Hancock, managing director, data and business services for Optus said.

In his career at IBM and Telstra, Mr Thorning held several sales and marketing management roles. He started out as a product specialist at IBM in the UK and later went on to account management.

After 22 years with IBM, he left to assume the role of general manager for Telstra retail in WA.

“I’m still in the mode of listening and absorbing instead of making changes. I don’t expect to make many changes- the changes that do occur will be positive ones and one of these is to increase employment in Optus,” he said.