NetStar refreshes management for IP push

IP network and managed solutions provider NetStar Group has expanded its management team to bolster growth.

The company has appointed ex Star TV, News Corporation and McDonnell Douglas staffer Gareth Chang, as its new NetStar Group Chairman. He replaces CEO Ed Yang, whose three year contract was not renewed.

Locally, Chris Meager has been appointed to CEO of NetStar Australia and James Constable to the new role of professional services process manager. Both are based in Melbourne.

Constable was previously senior project manager with NetStar and Meager was chief operating officer of NetStar Group and NetStar Australia.

Meager replaces former Netstar Australia CEO, Craig Dower who left last year for a position with Coles Myer.

The NetStar Group has three entities in APAC: NetStar Australia, NetStar Singapore and NetStar Taiwan.

The appointments follow a recent redirection of the company to focus on IP networks, security and convergence. Formerly NetStar’s business has been focused on systems integration, managed services and security, NetStar Australia marketing director, Oliver Descoeudres, said.

“IP technology is delivering a range of new applications and services that we see as having great potential for growth,” he said. “Our focus is on differentiating ourselves in how we deploy and manage security and IP-based applications, including telephony.”

Descoeudres said the realignment had also been toward a key vendor, Cisco, as the engine of NetStar’s growth.

“IP, convergence and security all go hand-in-hand and as the pace of IP deployments picks up,” he said.

“It will be businesses like NetStar which have invested in specialised expertise who will be the ones winning the business and supporting customers through managed services offerings.”