Who we are

A key player in New Zealand’s competitive telco market for two decades, Mark has driven multiple strategic acquisitions and mergers within the industry over this time. In 2022, Mark led the merger of New Zealand’s two leading challenger fixed and mobile telcos – Vocus Group NZ and 2degrees, to form a strong challenger committed to delivering innovation, network investment and strong competition to all market segments. Today, 2degrees now has revenues in excess of $1.2Bn with 1,800 passionate team members across the country.

Before his involvement with Vocus Group NZ and its predecessor companies, Mark spent a good deal of his career in FMCG, where he honed his skills and passion for working in challenger businesses. This also led to an enduring appreciation of the customer in all a business does – a spirit he imbues throughout 2degrees today.

As the leader of a dynamic business, Mark believes achieving cultural alignment when merging businesses is crucial in achieving high engagement and successful outcomes across teams.

Mark has worked in the telecommunications industry for over 20 years in NZ, Australia and the UK. 

He has been the Chief Executive of Chorus since April 2024, having joined the company in early 2023 as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to this he was the Chief Executive for 2Degrees and led the dual listing IPO process (NZX/ASX) and subsequent trade sale to Macquarie Asset Management. 

Mark has held a number of executive and other senior roles at Vodafone including the Chief Financial Officer of the New Zealand business. Mark was also the Chief Financial Officer of the Vodafone Global Enterprise business based in the UK that spanned operations in 25 countries. 

Mark has a personal passion for developing NZ Inc. He recognises the role technology plays as an enabler and in parallel the opportunity to drive positive societal outcomes to make NZ a better place to live. 

Jason is the Chief Executive Officer of One New Zealand, formerly Vodafone. He joined the business in 2018, previously working for Spark as Chief Executive Officer of Home, Mobile and Business.

Prior to his time at Spark, Jason held senior executive roles in Europe and New Zealand across the technology, media and retail industries.

Jason is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment to ensure equal opportunities exist and enable a better future for all New Zealanders.

Jolie Hodson is Chief Executive of Spark New Zealand, responsible for ensuring the company has a sound strategy and applies her leadership to delivering on that strategy, while building a leadership team around her and a business that can adapt to the fast-changing world of digital services.

Her appointment to Chief Executive in July 2019 followed a substantial career with Spark, leading most components of the operating business over a period of six years. Having joined Spark in 2013 as Spark Chief Financial Officer, Jolie played a pivotal part in repositioning the business from a ‘telco’ to a ‘digital service provider’, securing its return to growth in 2016. In 2016 she became Chief Executive Officer of Spark Digital, Spark’s ICT services division delivering digital solutions to a wide range of New Zealand business.

Prior to joining Spark, held a number of executive roles for Lion Group Australia, after starting her career with Deloitte’s.

Johnathan has more than 20 years’ communications industry experience in New Zealand and overseas where he has held leadership roles spanning the wholesale, enterprise, government and consumer sectors. He also has significant regulatory affairs experience.

Before joining Enable, Johnathan was based in Auckland as Chief Executive – Enterprise, Government and Wholesale at Vocus. Prior to that, his career included founding Black + White; a specialised business telco as well as working in the UK, Ireland, USA and New Zealand for companies such as Cable & Wireless, Hutchison Whampoa, and Telecom NZ (now Spark).

John is a highly experienced New Zealand Chief Executive with a strong track record in the technology sector, he is currently the CEO of Tuatahi First Fibre, having been with the company since June 2019.

John was the CEO of Network for Learning from 2012 – 2017, the CEO of Maxnet from 2009 to 2012 and the Chief Operating Officer of Simpl from 2006 to 2008.

Earlier roles included senior Executive positions with IBM, Computerland and SolNet Limited in New Zealand and Australia. John is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, a Trustee of the Professionelle Foundation, Chair of the Eat Right be Right Trust, and a Trustee of the Bright Future Trust.

Karl is the Chief Executive Officer of Devoli, a high growth software business engineered to disrupt the legacy telco landscape. For over 25 years, Karl has been leading innovative technology companies and is a market maker for digital transformation.  

Prior to Devoli, Karl was the CEO and shareholder of Connect NZ – one of NZ’s largest privately owned tech companies and he participates as a director or advisor on a number of boards in Australia and New Zealand. 

Karl is passionate about digital equity, removing barriers to entry and automating waste out of corporate business practices.  

Darren is a Chief Executive with over 12 years’ experience in building, operating, and managing Next Generation Fibre Optic Networks in the Telecommunications industry in New Zealand.

Darren’s primary focus has been to lead and set out the relationship the Company intends to have with its staff, customers, and stakeholders.  His previous roles include 15 years’ experience in the utilities sector leading and managing the marketing and customer services functions in the energy sector.

Darren holds a Bachelor of Management studies from the University of Waikato (Hons) has served on several Boards and is an alumni of the Institute of Strategic Leadership and Leadership NZ Trust, and a current member of the Institute of Directors.   

Paul is an experienced technology executive and industry commentator, with an extensive background in the telecommunications sector.

He has almost three decades of executive experience in the telecommunications and technology sectors. Between 2011 and 2014, he was CEO of users group TUANZ (previously the Telecommunications Users Association of NZ, now the Technology Users Association of NZ). During that time, he was also a Board Member of TCF and served as a Council Member of TDR, New Zealand’s independent Telecommunications Dispute Resolution service.

Paul has also worked at One New Zealand (formerly Vodafone) as well as for a number of news media organisations, including as editor of Computerworld. His most recent role has been leading the corporate communications team at Datacom.

Communications
& Marketing Manager

Digital & Design