Telstra appoints new consumer group managing director

Telstra today announced that Mr Karsten Wildberger has been appointed Group Managing Director, Consumer.

Mr Wildberger, who will report into Chief Customer Officer, Gordon Ballantyne, has extensive experience in the telecommunications industry holding senior executive positions at Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone.

Chief Customer Officer, Gordon Ballantyne, said he was pleased to welcome Karsten to the team after an intensive search locally and globally.

“Karsten’s experience and proven track record overseas will enable him to make a significant contribution to the company’s continued growth.”

“Karsten will bring a wealth of international experience to the role and help us continue to change the way our customers talk about Telstra,” Gordon said.

Mr Wildberger was most recently partner and managing director of The Boston Consulting Group in Germany and a core member of the Telecoms, Media and High Tech Practice.

Mr Wildberger has strong telecommunications experience as Chief Commercial Officer for Vodafone in Romania whilst also acting as interim CEO at Vodafone.

Mr Wildberger’s experience also extends to Deutsche Telekom in Germany where he was Executive Vice President, Channel Management, T-Mobile Germany with 29m customers and revenues of around €8bn.  Mr Wildberger was also Head of Channel Management and Head of Sales Channel Finance, T-Mobile UK. .

“I am looking forward to being part of the Telstra team and I am very excited about the opportunity to work at Telstra, one of the leading telecommunications players worldwide.” Mr Wildberger said.

Biography – Mr Karsten Wildberger

Karsten is an experienced Consumer telecommunications executive with a career spanning over 14 years with Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom and globally with The Boston Consulting Group.

At Vodafone Romania he was Chief Commercial Officer, Consumer, responsible for Marketing, Sales and Contact Centres, interim CEO as well as Chief Financial Officer.

At T-Mobile, Karsten held senior roles as Executive Vice President Channel Management in Germany, and Head of Sales Channel Finance and Head of Channel Management in the UK.

Karsten holds an MBA from INSEAD, a master’s degree and Ph.D in Physics.

Karsten will commence with Telstra on 2 January 2013 and will be based in Melbourne.