Annette Presley
Encyclopedia
Annette Sylvia Presley is a New Zealand
telecommunications entrepreneur, known as a co-founder of Slingshot
, one of New Zealand's largest internet service providers .
Presley was born to Alice Sylvia Presley. She went to McAuley High School
, and studied at the Auckland Technical Institute
during the 1970s, described by one tutor as "our most successful dropout". She started her career in accounting, before switching to computer programming in 1980 after prompting from her father. Later she moved on the selling computers before launching an IT recruitment company, Stratum, in 1988.
Future husband Malcolm Dick and Presley met at a golf function in the early 1990s. In 1992 the couple moved to Australia and founded Call Australia, which grew to a $100 million business employing 200 people. They sold the company and returned to New Zealand in 1998. The pair started CallPlus
in 1996, and subsidiary i4free which became Slingshot in 2001. They each held a 45 per cent stake in CallPlus, with chief executive Martin Wylie owning the remaining 10 per cent. Presley became the public face of Slingshot, appearing in the advertising and representing the company in the media, while Dick managed the technical side.
In February 2002 i4free sued Telecom New Zealand
for $18,162,342, claiming Telecom's June 1999 decision to force internet users to dial a "0867" prefix had severely limited growth of the company, delaying the launch of the service by nine months. Presley took the telco to the Wellington High Court while pregnant, Telecom settled out of court in 2005 after a long-running battle. She stated the result "was enough to remove the grimace from my face, but not to have me breaking into laughter.". Over the duration i4free had incurred nearly $1 million in court costs. From 2004 she regularly appeared in the media alongside other competitors of Telecom demanding the government unbundle the local loop, which eventually became a reality on 9 August 2007. Being one Telecom's most ardent critics, Presley even offered to do former CEO Theresa Gattung
's job for $1.
Dick and Presley had an acrimonious marriage break up in 2006, which spilled over into the business when CallPlus announced in September that she was no longer a director. Presley was holidaying in Fiji at the time and had not been informed prior to the announcement. During the marriage the couple had two children, Ashley and Brendon, and the couple had been rated by the NBR
Rich List having a combined worth of $70 million.
Presley has appeared on the New Zealand version of the Dragons' Den
television show, and was criticised by her Series 1 co-dragon Bob Jones
. She supports several charities including Preventing Violence in the Home, Dress for Success and Kidz First Children's Hospital.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
telecommunications entrepreneur, known as a co-founder of Slingshot
Slingshot (ISP)
Slingshot is a New Zealand owned telecommunications company. Founded in 2001, it is one of the major internet service providers in New Zealand. Slingshot is a subsidiary of CallPlus Services Ltd, the majority of which is owned by Annette Presley and her ex-husband Malcolm Dick, with ex-CEO Martin...
, one of New Zealand's largest internet service providers .
Presley was born to Alice Sylvia Presley. She went to McAuley High School
McAuley High School (New Zealand)
McAuley High School is a Catholic girls’ secondary school in Otahuhu, New Zealand. The school was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1962, and run by the order until the 1990s....
, and studied at the Auckland Technical Institute
Auckland University of Technology
The Auckland University of Technology is a university in New Zealand. It was formed on 1 January 2000 when the Auckland Institute of Technology was granted university status. Its primary campus is on Wellesley Street in Auckland's Central business district...
during the 1970s, described by one tutor as "our most successful dropout". She started her career in accounting, before switching to computer programming in 1980 after prompting from her father. Later she moved on the selling computers before launching an IT recruitment company, Stratum, in 1988.
Future husband Malcolm Dick and Presley met at a golf function in the early 1990s. In 1992 the couple moved to Australia and founded Call Australia, which grew to a $100 million business employing 200 people. They sold the company and returned to New Zealand in 1998. The pair started CallPlus
CallPlus
CallPlus is a New Zealand telecommunications company, parent of internet service provider Slingshot. It provides voice and data communication services to business customers. CallPlus is the fourth-largest telecommunications company in New Zealand, with revenues of over NZ$100 million .Annette...
in 1996, and subsidiary i4free which became Slingshot in 2001. They each held a 45 per cent stake in CallPlus, with chief executive Martin Wylie owning the remaining 10 per cent. Presley became the public face of Slingshot, appearing in the advertising and representing the company in the media, while Dick managed the technical side.
In February 2002 i4free sued Telecom New Zealand
Telecom New Zealand
Telecom New Zealand is a New Zealand-wide communications service provider , providing fixed line telephone services, a mobile network, an internet service provider , a major ICT provider to NZ businesses , and a wholesale network infrastructure provider to other NZ CSPs...
for $18,162,342, claiming Telecom's June 1999 decision to force internet users to dial a "0867" prefix had severely limited growth of the company, delaying the launch of the service by nine months. Presley took the telco to the Wellington High Court while pregnant, Telecom settled out of court in 2005 after a long-running battle. She stated the result "was enough to remove the grimace from my face, but not to have me breaking into laughter.". Over the duration i4free had incurred nearly $1 million in court costs. From 2004 she regularly appeared in the media alongside other competitors of Telecom demanding the government unbundle the local loop, which eventually became a reality on 9 August 2007. Being one Telecom's most ardent critics, Presley even offered to do former CEO Theresa Gattung
Theresa Gattung
Theresa Gattung is a former CEO of Telecom New Zealand.Gattung was educated at McKillop College, Rotorua, the University of Waikato and Victoria University of Wellington...
's job for $1.
Dick and Presley had an acrimonious marriage break up in 2006, which spilled over into the business when CallPlus announced in September that she was no longer a director. Presley was holidaying in Fiji at the time and had not been informed prior to the announcement. During the marriage the couple had two children, Ashley and Brendon, and the couple had been rated by the NBR
National Business Review
The National Business Review is a weekly New Zealand newspaper aimed at the business sector. The paper is owned by Barry Colman who also publishes the Grocers Review and several other small trade publications....
Rich List having a combined worth of $70 million.
Presley has appeared on the New Zealand version of the Dragons' Den
Dragons' Den
Dragons' Den is a series of reality television programmes featuring entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas in order to secure investment finance from a panel of venture capitalists. The show originated in Japan as "Manē no Tora"...
television show, and was criticised by her Series 1 co-dragon Bob Jones
Bob Jones (New Zealand)
Sir Robert 'Bob' Jones is a property tycoon, author and former politician in New Zealand. Growing up in the City of Lower Hutt suburb of Naenae, he attended Naenae College and then Victoria University of Wellington...
. She supports several charities including Preventing Violence in the Home, Dress for Success and Kidz First Children's Hospital.
Recognition
- 2006 Metro Magazine Business Woman of the Year
- NZ Listener poll - 50 most trusted people in New Zealand