Hostworks COO, CFO to quit

Hostworks chief financial officer Kylie Turner and chief operating officer Peter Wildy have resigned from the company, just days after the departure of long-time national sales manager Klaus Bartosch and less than two months since the resignation of founder Marty Gauvin.

The resignations represent a troubled first week for newly-installed managing director Paul Mullen, with the entire executive team that has led the web and application hosting company since its inception quitting in quick succession.

Hostworks was acquired by transmission specialists Broadcast Australia, part of the ASX-listed Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group (MCG), in 2008.

Mullen is a long-time Broadcast Australia/Macquarie staffer and led the $68.9m acquistion of Hostworks.

Mullen broke the news in an email to staff at 11:30am this morning, immediately hosing down any potential speculation suggesting the two executives had been asked to leave.

"For both Peter and Kylie the decision was a personal one that they reached co-incidentally," he told staff. 

"Their decisions are in no way related to recent changes but are purely personal choices for their respective future careers."

Turner will leave the company on August 14, with Wildy following two weeks later on August 28.

Mullen told Hostworks staff that both executives will be "actively recruiting suitable replacements."

Wildy had spent nine years with Hostworks in either the CFO or COO role and is responsible for IT operations within Hostworks. He is credited for leading Hostworks' acquisitions of Interpath and Dimension Data Central.

Turner had been with the company closer to five years, and was also responsible for the implementation of new finance and payroll systems at the company.

Mullen urged staff not to talk to customers about the changes.

"Please note that formal notification has not been given to customers but will be done in the next day or 2 [sic]," he said in the e-mail.

"I request that this notice is kept confidential, internal to Hostworks for the time being."

For an in-depth interview with Hostworks managing director Paul Mullen, click here.

iTnews has requested further comment from Hostworks and parent company Broadcast Australia.

TIMELINE

OCTOBER 1999:                   Young Australian of the Year Marty Gauvin forms Hostworks in Adelaide

AUGUST 2000:                      Peter Wildy joins Hostworks, at that stage with 20 staff

JULY 2003:                             Former DMR/Aspect staffer Klaus Bartosch joins Hostworks

MARCH 12, 2008:                 Broadcast Australia announces purchase of Hostworks for $68.9 million

APRIL 2, 2009:                       Hostworks founder Marty Gauvin quits

APRIL 9, 2009:                       Former Sun Microsystems MD Jim Hassell appointed as interim MD

JUNE 2, 2009:                        SBS TV switches its web hosting business to Macquarie Telecom

JUNE 4, 2009:                        Hostworks appoints Paul Mullen as managing director

JUNE 7, 2009:                        Hostworks national sales manager Klaus Bartosch quits

JUNE 12, 2009:                      Hostworks COO Peter Wildy and CFO Kylie Turner resign