Optus CEO’s salary and lavish life: Why Australians may not feel too sorry for Kelly Bayer Rosmarin – as she resigns as telco boss
Kelly Bayer Rosmarin may have stepped down as CEO of Optus following a disastrous network outage, but many would still envy the businesswoman for her lavish life.
Ms Bayer Rosmarin, 46, announced on Monday that it was an “appropriate time to resign” following a nationwide Optus outage on November 8.
For the powerful CEO β who lives in an award-winning $15 million mansion and reportedly earns more than $5 million a year β it was a sudden change in her career path, which until now has only gone one way: up.
βOn Friday I had the opportunity to appear before the Senate to elaborate on the cause of the network outage and how Optus recovered and responded,β she said in a statement.
‘Having had time for some personal reflection, I have concluded that my resignation is in the best interests of Optus.
βIt has been an honor and privilege to lead the Optus team and serve our customers. I wish everyone and the company every success in the future.’
She has been at the helm of the telco since April 2020.
Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, 46, announced on Monday that it was an ‘appropriate time to resign’ following a nationwide Optus outage on November 8
Previously, Ms Bayer Rosmarin Group was Executive of Institutional Banking and Markets β a very senior position β at the Commonwealth Bank.
When she left the bank in March 2018, Ms Bayer Rosmarin reportedly had a salary of $5.15 million. She reportedly received a $966,000 termination fee.
She joined Optus as Deputy CEO on March 1, 2019 and became CEO exactly one year and one month later. The company’s annual reports are vague about exactly how much she earned.
By comparison, when Telstra CEO Vicki Brady was appointed last September, she had a fixed salary reportedly just under $2.4 million.
The CEO has been at the helm since April 2020
However, Ms. Brady has the capacity to earn up to $7 million a year in bonuses β which is standard for senior executives.
Ms Bayer Rosmarin also lives in a sprawling mansion in one of Sydney’s most exclusive suburbs.
Her house has four bedrooms, a three-car garage where a Tesla is parked and beautiful views of the harbor.
On the day Optus suffered a nationwide outage that left ten million customers without internet access and unable to receive calls and texts, an extensive photo shoot took place at the CEO’s home.
A fleet of vehicles delivered luxury items such as plaids, shrubs and furniture.
Even the CEO’s husband, Rodney, admitted that the photo session – organized for the architect renovating the house – was “unfortunate timing.”
Mr Rosmarin told Ny Breaking Australia at the time: ‘They hadn’t got around to photographing it yet and it was done today.
Ms Bayer Rosmarin also lives in a sprawling mansion in one of Sydney’s most exclusive suburbs. At the same time, a photo shoot took place during the network outage on November 8
“It was just unfortunate timing.”
He admitted that the network crash had been “hell” for his wife, adding: “Unfortunately that’s the problem with large organizations and modern technology.”
Ms Bayer Rosmarin was not seen during the photo shoot, which started just hours after Optus crashed across the country.
Mr Rosmarin is also a former director of the Commonwealth Bank.
The powerful couple has two daughters and a dog, an Italian greyhound named Vespa.
Her family moved into her home in May 2021 after selling a smaller, more modern home nearby for $7.75 million.
They also sold their second home, a sprawling 1915 Rose Manor in Bowral in the NSW Southern Highlands, for $4 million in August last year after a $400,000 renovation.
Ny Breaking Australia recently revealed that a 5G tower was installed right outside her home about 18 months after she bought the property.
Mrs Bayer Rosmarin’s husband, Rodney, is seen behind the wheel of their silver Lexus, while a white Tesla is also seen in their three-car garage
The Optus Small Cell transmitter was installed at the end of 2022 on an electricity pole in the street where Mrs Bayer Rosmarin lives. Optus said this was set up as part of a program to resolve local issues.
A local Optus user said that despite the opulent houses lining the streets, the area had always been a signal black spot.
That is, until Mrs. Bayer Rosmarin and her husband purchased the property.
When Ny Breaking Australia asked Optus whether the CEO had a role in the construction of the tower outside her home, a spokesperson said the unit was part of a two-year plan to “improve” coverage in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
The spokesperson added that the telco is committed to identifying coverage issues across Australia.
‘This effort includes optimizing existing sites and establishing new ones to ensure higher levels of network performance and coverage in the region.’
Ms. Bayer Rosmarin’s next career steps are unclear.