Perhaps the highest profile battler in the telecommunications world, Telecommunications Users Association (Tuanz) chief executive Ernie Newman, sent an email to friends and colleagues this morning announcing his resignation.

Mr Newman will leave at a date in late September, still to be negotiated.

READ ALSO: Tuanz chair defends proposal to let telcos on board

Tuanz represents the interests of around 500 corporate telecommunications customers. 

In a notice to members announcing Mr Newman's departure, Tuanz chairman Pat O'Connell said the board had "reluctantly accepted" the executive's resignation.

(Read the full notice after Mr Newman's letter below).

Mr O'Connell - CIO for The Rank Group - is currently in the US, and will travel on to Europe before returning to New Zealand next weekend.

Contacting NBR by email, Mr O'Connell said there was not yet any shortlist of contenders to fill the shoes of Mr Newman, who has held the chief executive role since 1999.

"The board will be gathering around the phones early next week to discuss the process of finding a replacement," Mr O'Connell said.  

ABOVE: Don't give up your day job ... whoops. The ever-energetic Ernie Newman takes to YouTube in a viral clip rediscovered by Computerworld today.

Battling on behalf of corporate customers ... and the all New Zealanders
Mr Newman's greatest hits include his organisation's recent participation, along with Consumer, 2degrees and others, in the Drop the Rate, Mate campaign, and other measures that helped push the government toward mobile pricing regulation.

Lately, the Tuanz boss has also been turning up the heat on international mobile roaming charges - an area now the subject of a transtasman government investigation.

The nuggety, ever-quotable Mr Newman was uncharacteristically quiet today.

The NBR Technology Power Lister confirmed his resignation during a brief phone call with NBR, but said he had nothing to add beyond the email he circulatedthis morning.

It reads:

ON MY BIKE

Hi All

Please excuse this impersonal message, but it’s the most efficient way to give a number of good friends and industry colleagues some news before it goes out officially later this morning.

I’ve decided this is a good moment to move on from Tuanz. Chairman Pat O’Connell has accepted my resignation, effective late September.

It's been a pretty interesting ride since I joined here in January 1999. It's taken me to some incredibly interesting places and brought me to meet some great people along the way. I’m really proud of the changes Tuanz has helped bring to the telecommunications landscape over that period. For detail you’ll have to read the book – eventually! (You might be in it.)

Why now? Why not? It’s been coming for a while. I usually have a much shorter concentration span – in over 40 years in the workforce I’ve never before had more than five years in one job. Yet Tuanz has kept me interested for 12 years which says a lot about the industry and the people. And last week’s ministerial decision on MTR brings a sense of success and closure to a suite of last-generation policy issues, making this as good a moment as any to make a move.

What am I going to do? Honestly, I have no idea. But “nothing” is not an option. Much as it’s tempting to use the standard “more time with friends and family” line, experience tells me that after 10 days of doing nothing I’ll be out of my mind with boredom. (The long term retirement plan – putting the accordion on the plane to Paris and busking on the Metro – is still quite a few years away.)

So maybe I’ll turn up again in telecommunications, or maybe somewhere entirely different. I’ve got a few strings to the bow. Any leads will be welcomed!

There will, of course, be a chance to catch up between now and the end of next month - I’m clearing the diary to make sure. Make me an offer!

Best regards

Ernie Newman
Chief Executive

Tuanz chairman Pat O'Connell's notice to members:

Dear TUANZ member

I'm writing to let you know that Chief Executive Ernie Newman has submitted his resignation from the role, and the Board has reluctantly accepted this.

Ernie has occupied the position since 1999. It goes without saying that we all owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his tireless efforts over the past 12 years.

The Minister's decision last week to regulate mobile termination rates was a very important milestone. I know that Ernie saw it as a natural point at which to make his decision to move on, and I respect his wishes. He will finish on a date to be negotiated but probably around the end of September. As to what he plans to do next, I'll let him talk about that in his own way.

The Board will address the issue of a replacement shortly and will keep members informed.
.
I’m sure we’ll have ample opportunity to thank Ernie personally over the next few weeks.

Pat O'Connell
Chairman