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NBN Co hires outspoken analyst Smeallie

The National Broadband Network Company has reportedly hired former outspoken telecommunications analyst Tim Smeallie as its head of commercial strategy.
Written by Suzanne Tindal, Contributor

The National Broadband Network Company has reportedly hired former outspoken telecommunications analyst Tim Smeallie as its head of commercial strategy.

Neither Smeallie nor the department have yet responded to requests for comment, but The Sydney Morning Herald reported the appointment today.

Smeallie left his position at Citigroup last year. The Australian reported that he, along with other colleagues, had left as the US firm's cost-cutting measures got underway.

Since leaving Citigroup, Smeallie started an advisory firm called Numerico Advisory, of which he is the principal. Smeallie was often quoted on issues of note within the telecommunications industry, both in his role at Citigroup and heading up his new advisory firm. He has been vocal about the planned National Broadband Network and the incumbent telco Telstra.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Smeallie will have to lead the negotiations with Telstra over the role it will play in the $43 billion network, engaging with Telstra's NBN team head Geoff Booth.

ZDNet.com.au understands that Smeallie had done some work for former fibre-to-the-node network bidder Acacia, which was chaired by former Telstra executive Doug Campbell. Campbell is now the chair of Tasmania's National Broadband Network Company.

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