Telstra media head Rick Ellis resigns, marketing boss Mark Buckman promoted

TELSTRA has shuffled its senior management ranks with the resignation of its head of media, Rick Ellis. Marketing boss Mark Buckman has been promoted.

Telstra media boss Rick Ellis will leave the business after the Sensis sale is completed.

TELSTRA head of media Rick Ellis has resigned.

He will be replaced by chief marketing officer Mark Buckman who will take on a combined managing director of media and marketing role.

Mr Ellis is to leave the company after the majority sale of Telstra's Sensis division to Platinum Equity Group is completed, which would leave his portfolio significantly reduced. Ellis joined the telco two years ago from TVNZ.

Telstra boss David Thodey thanked Mr Ellis for his contributions to the company's leadership team and for his work with Foxtel and Sensis.

Marketing and digital media head Mark Buckman will take on Rick Ellis' former portfolio.

Mr Buckman has been with Telstra for three years after a successful tenure as Commonwealth Bank's marketing head. He had previously worked in advertising, including as a chief executive of ad agency McCann Worldwide.

Mr Buckman's responsibilities will encompass Telstra's brand and digital media. Mr Buckman was promoted as recently as last year when he added digital media and Telstra's IPTV and pay TV investments to his portfolio.

Telstra has also promoted veteran Mike Wright as group managing director, networks. Mr Wright has been with the business for 33 years.