23 June 2009 - Rob Spray, is to become the first CEO of the newly formed Telecommunications Industry Group (TIG), beginning work on 1st July 2009.

Spray, whose past roles include Managing Director of Nortel New Zealand, Leading Channels and Partners for Nortel Asia and Management roles in NZ, UK, Europe and Asia in Telecommunications over the last 25 years, takes up the role and says he relishes the challenge.

"I am very excited to be given this opportunity" says Spray "I have been actively involved in the evolution of the Telecommunications industry in NZ for some time. We want to have the TIG recognised as the voice of the industry in New Zealand and our focus will be to increase the contribution of Telecommunications to New Zealand society and economy"

The Telecommunications Industry Group was officially formed on 21 May and was created with the goal of creating raised awareness by the New Zealand business community and public of the contribution made by telecommunications to the New Zealand economy.

To date, Baycity Communications, Callplus, Citylink, Compass Communications, FX Networks, Kordia, Telecom (Group), Woosh, WorldxChange, Vector and Vodafone have all signed up to take part. Vodafone New Zealand CEO Russell Stanners is the inaugural chair of the TIG.

"I'm delighted that Rob will be taking up the role of establishing the TIG and building it into an organisation we can all be proud of. Rob has a long history in the telco sector in New Zealand and I'm looking forward to working closely with him as we put together the TIG," says Stanners.