Ex-News exec to head up Sensis

Telstra CEO David Thodey announced today that The Australian's ex-chief operating officer John Allan has been appointed as the new managing director of Sensis.

Allan left News Limited in June, after six years with the company and developing The Australian's digital strategy. He was also the CEO of TrueLocal.com.au.

Thodey told journalists in Sydney today that Allan would start immediately and replaces former CEO Bruce Akhurst, who left Sensis after seven years in March.

Allan comes to the Sensis business at a time when the business is struggling, due to lower than expected uptake of its online services and a sharp decline in the revenue for the print directory business.

Telstra said that Allan's role will be to deliver on long term digital strategy and simplify the Sensis business.

Thodey also announced today that former IBM general manager of global technology services David Burns will lead Telstra's Network Applications and Services (NAS) operations team, and NAS executive director Paul McManus will now head up NAS Asia.

"Paul will work closely with David Burns, Telstra Global and other units across Telstra, to build this business and develop a suite of integrated product and service offerings for Telstra customers," Thodey said. "Over the past two years, Paul drove the growth of our NAS business, which opened up an important new revenue stream."