New ANZ managing director for Avaya as transformation continues

Avaya has appointed Peter Chidiac as its new managing director for Australia and New Zealand as the company continues its transition into a software and services company.

Chidiac, who is Sydney-based, has held senior roles in IT and telecommunications for more than 20 years, most recently as the ANZ managing director for global mobile network operator Truphone.

Avaya says he is charged with leading the next phase in Avaya's local transformation, which the company says has seen it more closely align its local operations with the needs of customers, with a focus on delivering business outcomes.

He will be responsible for overseeing the execution of Avaya's global strategy across Australia and New Zealand.

Nidal Abou-Ltaif, Avaya International president, says over the last 12 months Avaya has identified key changes that needed to be made in Australia and New Zealand to deliver true digital transformations to customers.

"Having executed on these, we now hand over to Peter to carry that success into the next year and beyond," Abou-Ltaif says.

"Peter has been at the forefront of the digital shift and his experience places Avaya Australia and New Zealand in an ideal position to maintain its leadership in contextual communications solutions.

Chidiac says Australian and New Zealand organisations have been 'pressed' to transform their communications capabilities through the continued proliferation of technology developments such as the internet of things, mobility and cloud computing.

"Today, businesses need to combine rigid networking and effective team collaboration with completely integrated omni-channel experiences so that they can deliver services on customers' terms," Chidiac says.

"My focus at Avaya will be to engage in these conversations so that, with our support, our customers can expand their businesses and secure brand loyalty with the right technology solutions.

Prior to his stint with Truphone Chidiac was the chief executive officer of Veridan Solutions. Previous roles include Asia Pacific vice president of eLoyalty and ANZ managing director of Nuance Communications.

Chidiac is the latest in a run of managing directors for the company, taking over the reins from Jeff Sheard who left in February after nine months in the top role.

Tim Gentry served in the role for two years before taking up a role with the company in the United States in 2014. He was replaced by Tony Simonsen, who held the role for 16 months before heading to Polycom where he now heads up their ANZ operations.

Recent months have seen Darren Read, Avaya ANZ general manager of services, taking on the role of acting managing director while Sheard's replacement was found.