Jason Paris has stepped down as chief executive of One New Zealand after nearly eight years in the role, with chief financial officer Nick Judd appointed to replace him immediately.
Paris was on leave when the change was announced, though his official departure date is several months away. He said the timing felt right given the company's strong performance and established strategy.
"There's never a perfect time to hand over the reins, but after nearly eight years, with the business performing strongly and our strategy firmly in place, this feels like the right time," Paris said.
During his tenure, Paris led the company through its separation from Vodafone Group ownership and the creation of the One New Zealand brand. Under his leadership, the company launched a satellite-to-mobile service and positioned itself as an AI-enabled telecommunications provider.
Board chairwoman Phillippa Harford praised Paris's leadership and his transformation of the company.
Judd was serving as chief financial officer before his appointment to the top role. He previously held the CFO position at Tourism Holdings and worked at Air New Zealand for more than 15 years across strategy, sales and growth positions.
Paris said he plans to take a break before his next role. "I'm looking forward to a break before taking on my next challenge. I don't know exactly what that'll be yet, but I know it'll be exciting," he said.