BUSINESS

Entwistle to step aside as president and CEO of Telus

The Canadian Press Published Monday, March 31, 2014 8:17AM EDT Last Updated Monday, March 31, 2014 11:09AM EDT

Telus chief executive Darren Entwistle speaks to shareholders the company's annual meeting Thursday, May 9, 2013 in Montreal. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz)

Text:

CALGARY -- Darren Entwistle is stepping aside as president and CEO of Telus Corp. (TSX:T), one of Canada's largest telecommunications companies.

He'll be replaced in those posts by Telus veteran executive Joe Natale effective May 8, when the company has its shareholders meeting.

Entwistle, who joined Telus in 2000 as CEO, will remain as executive chair of its board, following the retirement of chairman Brian Canfield, who has spent 58 years with Telus and predecessor company BC Tel.

Natale joined Telus in 2003 as an executive vice-president. Since then he has been president of Telus Business Solutions and president of Telus Consumer Solutions.

Since 2010, Natale has been chief commercial officer for Telus, based in Toronto.

"Joe is an exceptionally proven and highly capable leader," Enwistle said in a statement Monday.

"I look forward to continuing to work closely with Joe and the Telus board . . . as we strive to continuously create leading value for our investors, customers, team members and communities."