One New Zealand appoints Kieran Byrne as new CTO

One New Zealand, formerly Vodafone NZ, has announced the appointment of Kieran Byrne as the new Chief Technology Officer. Byrne steps into the role following Tony Baird's resignation after serving the company for 14 years.

Byrne's new position will see him leading One NZ's mobile and fixed networks, cybersecurity, IT operations, and wholesale division. He joined the company in January 2021, initially overseeing Technology Commercial Operations for three years, and most recently serving as General Manager of Strategy and Transformation. In October 2023, he was also appointed as a Director of the Rural Connectivity Group.

Commenting on his new role, Byrne brings with him a rich educational background, holding a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Canterbury and an MBA from the London Business School. His professional experience spans seven years as a management consultant for Bain and Company, with a focus on telecommunications across Australasia, Asia, and Africa.

Jason Paris, CEO of One NZ, expressed confidence in Byrne's capabilities, stating, "Kieran is an engineer at heart and brings to the role expertise in setting and executing strategy, driving customer and commercial outcomes, and strengthening key partner relationships. He has deep industry knowledge and will be supported by an incredibly strong technical leadership team." Paris added, "While we are sad to see Tony depart the business, we know we are in great hands with Kieran at the helm."

Outgoing CTO Tony Baird took to LinkedIn for his announcement, expressing personal reflections on his departure. "After much personal reflection on what the right timing would be, I have decided to move fully into the Telco and Technology consultancy space and pursue other new opportunities. This will commence with several strategic projects for the benefit of One NZ and our owners Infratil and Morrison," said Baird.

Reflecting on his tenure, Baird noted several achievements, including winning the "Best in Test" mobile network title in New Zealand for three consecutive years, building international and domestic fibre networks, and launching next-generation critical communications for emergency services. Additionally, he highlighted the scaling of the wholesale division, the separation from Vodafone Group, the transition into a new ownership model, and the creation of Eon Fibre as significant milestones.

"Most importantly I leave knowing that One NZ has one of the highest quality technology and wholesale teams anywhere in the world," Baird said, expressing satisfaction with the team's accomplishments during his time with the company.

The official handover will take effect on 1 October, with Baird transitioning into an advisory role thereafter.