Vocus hires US telco exec Andrés Irlando as new CEO

Vocus has brought in a CEO in the form of US-based Zayo Group president and chief operating officer Andrés Irlando.

Set to start from 14 July, Irlando takes the reins from interim CEO Jarrod Nink, who held the spot as the telco’s board looked for a new chief executive.

Vocus chair Penny Bingham-Hall said Irlando’s appointment comes “at a pivotal time in our history”.

He enters the role with two decades of executive leadership experience in the telco and tech sectors. Irlando worked at Zayo in the US for the last four years, but the bulk of his relevant working history comes from his more than 17 years at Verizon.

During that time, he held a number of high level roles, including president of its public sector business unit and CEO of global software-as-a-service (SaaS) company Verizon Connect.

“Andrés’ extensive experience in in building, integrating and leading multi-billion-dollar digital infrastructure businesses and large, complex teams in one of the world’s most competitive infrastructure markets aligns with our vision and is particularly important as we look to complete the acquisition of TPG’s enterprise, government and wholesale fixed business later this year,” Bingham-Hall said.

“The convergence of fibre infrastructure and AI-driven intelligence is creating a new era of connectivity and Andrés’ valuable expertise in bringing to life technology-driven strategies that harness the transformative potential of AI will help place the Vocus network at the leading edge of economic opportunity and industry transformation.”

Vocus added Irlando’s appointment is subject to customary visa approvals in Australia and regulatory authorisation in Singapore.

His appointment comes months after Ellie Sweeney finished her time as Vocus CEO in December last year, after which point she took up the top spot at NBN Co.