The Sol Trujillo report card
Summary: Sol Trujillo is leaving Telstra at the end of the tax year. So what is his legacy? On this week's Twisted Wire we give the report card on his performance at Telstra and look at some of his recent overseas history as well.
Sol Trujillo is leaving Telstra at the end of the tax year. So what is his legacy? On this week's Twisted Wire we give the report card on his performance at Telstra and look at some of his recent overseas history as well.
Was he here for the money or did he have a passion for making Telstra succeed? Could he have played government relations better or was his approach right for shareholders? What have been his successes and failures? And who is going to replace him?
Phil Dobbie gets views from across the industry and interested parties including:
- Shareholder activist Stephen Mayne
- Independent telco analyst Kevin Morgan
- Richard Wray, Comms Editor at the Guardian
- Queensland Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce
- Stephen Bartholomeusz from Business Spectator
How do you think he did? Add your comments below.
Phil Dobbie is a broadcaster and businessman with more than 15 years commercial experience across the telecommunications, internet, tourism, advertising and radio industries. Dobbie also provides a daily podcast for our sister site BNET.com. Join him for BTalk Australia, where he provides a lively and insightful view on business issues, adding his blend of irony and humour to the discussions.
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Talkback
Social Media
http://twitter.com/OurSol
Sol's legacy
I'd be interested to see the full extent of capitol commitments and services contracts to US based organisations (especially where Sol has an interest)
@ Sol's legacy
Today they closed at $2.96 their lowest close ever and they went to an intraday low of $2.93, their lowest price ever.
T1 in total was $3.30
T2 $7.40
T3 $3.60
For retail investors.
Sol took over when they were around $5, from memory.
So although all, well most, shares are down, most also skyrocketed first, but not Telstra ($8.27 their highest, I believe, soon after T2). So apart from the div, Telstra has been an absolute investment disaster, for such a claimed blue chip company.
But before all the fanbois start with the excuses, I'm thinking they can't go too much lower, maybe a buy, soon?
Steven Mayne's comment
I did not agree with your wrap of the first guest's comments. i thought I heard Steven Mayne say that Sol made good on the Next G network but missed the main game.
Telstra's unique asset is the copper core and this had been allowed to idly deteriorate these past four years when it should have been an expansionary gold mine.
Andrew Cox
Jason, you surprise me
I'll simply add that Telstra are getting ripe for a hostile takeover bid, maybe from Optus, iiNet or whoever. I bet the thought of that makes Sydney Lawrence fall out of bed or choke on his Weetbix.
@Jason
Although you do know, that if you and I buy TLS shares, we may have to become fanbois, lol!
Post script Mel
copper expansion...?
What's the point in spending money on something you'll have to then share with your competitiors at ans ACCC set price, most likely below what it costs you...?
Telstra makes a killing on wholesale and retail
Killing?
But there is just as little evidence to suggest they don't, lose out!
Since you have conclusive evidence proving they make a killing, please supply and show us all!
Thanks, I wait with great interest.
Sol & Telstra
Say no for telstra
jaeny dy
http://www.ohmi.com.au/
Sol Report Card - Prior to Telstra
You would hope that he would have learned from that mistake or on the other hand, maybe that’s what the board wanted from someone. An arrogant and unimaginative CEO. What Telstra needed was the opposite with someone that recognises that product innovation and infrastructure investment proves a better long term strategy than just sitting back on what you have and hoping that old infrastructure doesn’t fall apart. Net/Net on costs , what he spent on legal and lobbying he could have invested in R&D and we would all be better off, customers and shareholders.
As a final note;Dont invest with Target if you have shares on Wall Street and if he gets re-elected. He will now have much more time on his hands to ensure that Target becomes another of his failures.
Sydney Lawrence