IT services exec to lead Melbourne Storm

Former Verizon Business and IBM executive Ron Gauci has traded ICT services for sports after signing on to lead embattled NRL club the Melbourne Storm.

Gauci was until recently the A/NZ managing director and vice president for Verizon Business.

Before that he was a lead partner in the financial services consulting practice for IBM global business services in Australia.

Gauci has also held senior management and executive positions at Siebel Systems, Telstra and Microsoft amongst other big name firms.

The Storm said Gauci was chosen as its new chief because he had a "strong track record of successfully managing organisations through a period of change".

Gauci had been credited with overseeing Verizon Business' transformation in Australia.

The Melbourne Storm has been under a cloud after breaching salary cap rules.