October 1999 marked a significant shift for Telecom New Zealand when Theresa Gattung assumed the role of chief executive officer. By taking this position, she became the first woman to lead a large public company in New Zealand, overseeing a telecommunications business with a five billion dollar turnover and listings on the NZX, ASX, and NYSE.
Educational Background and Early Roles
Born in Wellington in 1962, Gattung attended John Paul College in Rotorua and later McKillop College. She earned a Bachelor of Management Studies in marketing from the University of Waikato and a Bachelor of Laws from Victoria University of Wellington. Before her tenure at Telecom, she held senior marketing positions at the Bank of New Zealand and National Mutual.
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Gattung joined Telecom New Zealand in 1996 as Group General Manager Services. During her seven-year period as CEO, she managed the firm's transition from a traditional telecommunications provider into a leading IT services company. Her leadership spanned major technological shifts within the industry until her resignation in 2007.
Entrepreneurial Ventures
In 2013, she co-founded the food delivery service My Food Bag alongside Cecilia Robinson and Nadia Lim. The company experienced rapid expansion, eventually surpassing 150 million dollars in turnover. Gattung also chaired Wool Partners International from 2008 to 2011 and launched the matchmaking service Compatico in 2024, which she sold in July 2025.
Governance and Philanthropy
Gattung has served as a director and chair for multiple organizations, including AIA Australia and AIA New Zealand. Her charitable work includes the World Women Charitable Trust, the Eva Doucas Charitable Trust, and the Cambodia Charitable Trust. In 2021, she established the Gattung Foundation and funded the Theresa Gattung Chair of Women in Entrepreneurship at the University of Auckland.
Fast facts
- Born: 1962, Wellington
- Chief Executive Officer of Telecom New Zealand: 1999–2007
- Co-founder of My Food Bag: 2013
- Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit: 2024
- Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit: 2015
- Author of Bird on a Wire: 2010
Questions readers ask
What was Theresa Gattung's role at Telecom New Zealand?
She served as the chief executive officer from 1999 to 2007, becoming the first woman to run a large public company in New Zealand.
Which major companies did she co-found?
She co-founded the food delivery business My Food Bag in 2013 and the matchmaking service Compatico in 2024.
Achievements
- Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit — 2015
- Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit — 2024
- Educated at Victoria University of Wellington and University of Waikato
