AMTA Director, Bill Zikou, has announced his retirement from the Board. After a long and distinguished career spanning 35 years in leadership roles throughout South East Europe, Sweden and Australia, Mr Zikou has announced his planned retirement from Ericsson Australia Pty Ltd last week.

AMTA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Althaus, on the Board’s behalf, thanked Mr Zikou for his two years of industry service and helping AMTA to meet its aims of promoting an environmentally, socially and economically responsible, successful and sustainable mobile telecommunications industry in Australia.

Mr Zikou's decision follows almost a year of careful consideration and engagement with the Ericsson leadership team, enabling a succession plan to be put in place.

Mr Zikou commenced his employment with Ericsson in 1974 as part of the Graduate Program in Ericsson Australia's manufacturing operations in Broadmeadows. Mr Zikou then progressed through a number of senior management roles in operations including Director of Manufacturing and Head of Local Services. In 1996 he was appointed to Director for the Vodafone account and was a key driver in building Ericsson's market presence in Sydney. In 2001 Mr Zikou was promoted to the Head of Ericsson's business in South East Europe, a role he held for 5 years before returning to Australia as CEO of Ericsson Australia and New Zealand in 2006.

Effective 3 November 2008, Ms Jacqueline Hey has been appointed CEO of Ericsson Australia and New Zealand.

Ms Hey returns to Australia from the United Kingdom after four years as Head of Market Unit North West Europe where she oversaw a period of significant change including the building of a significant managed services business and the integration of Marconi's UK operations. Prior to the UK, Ms Hey was the Director for the Vodafone account in Australia and held several senior sales and marketing roles within the Telstra account.