Peter O′Connell
Partner and Director Shark Holding
Peter O′Connell (57) is Chairman and founder of amaysim, Australia′s first low cost mobile service provider, dedicated to delivering simplicity, fairness and low prices to mobile consumers with its customer centric mobile services and low cost guarantee.
An international telecommunications and business expert, Peter has had a long and extensive career in telecommunications and technology as an adviser, investor, lawyer and senior executive. He played a pioneering role in the deregulation of Australia's telecommunications in the 1990s and was a founding director of Optus Communications, having helped lead the successful bid by BellSouth and Cable and Wireless. In 2008 Peter met the founding partners of Shark Holding GmbH, a European investment and management company that combines extensive knowledge in business strategy, marketing, sales, operations and finance, with investment intelligence in the online and telecommunications market sector. Shark Holding′ first venture, simyo, was launched in 2005 and became the world′s largest online based mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), operating in Germany, Spain, France, Netherlands and Belgium. Following a successful earn-out period in 2010, Peter joined the founding team and actively supported the decision to embark on a new entrepreneurial challenge, launching amaysim in Australia.
From early 2007 Peter served as a Director and Head of Strategy and Regulation of Eircom in Ireland and between 1995 and 2006 Peter was director of many Australian companies including Optus Communications, Commander Communications, Film Australia, Sigtech, Ticketek, Stadium Australia, Perisher Resorts, Multiplex Facilities Management and Moonstone Diamonds. He served as an adviser to the Australian Government on I.T reform and as a Trustee of the Australian Museum. From 1986 to 1994 Peter was a partner of major Australian law firm Minter Ellison and between 1993 and 1994 was a partner of Gilbert and Tobin During this time his international telecommunication expertise was recognised when unusually he was appointed as (external) General Counsel Asia Pacific for giant US telecommunication company BellSouth and a founding director of Bell South New Zealand.
In 1994 Peter left legal practice and founded Hargrave Consultants, a technology adviser and investor, where he invested in successful MVNOs and technology businesses such as web designer GMD and Commander. In one of his first entrepreneurial ventures Peter founded The Chic Group with Ursula Hufnagl in 1992, managing the careers of some of the world′s leading names in modelling, and leading names in Australian sport,television, movies and theatre. Chic has grown significantly and is now recognised as one of the world′s most respected modelling agencies. The Chic Group also houses commercial modelling agency Scoop, photographic agency and fashion productioncompany The Artist Group, and fast growing celebrity manager Chic Celebrity. Chic has been at the forefront of using the internet and technology to promote its clients′ interests. Peter O′Connell studied at the University of Sydney and the Australian National University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours and a Bachelor of Law. In his spare time, Peter enjoys skiing, horse riding, rugby, walking, Australian literature and writing: he often participates in bouts of very bad solo guitar playing! Peter co-wrote the acclaimed International Life Saving Hymn ″Stand inside the Circle″ with Sam See and Lyndsay Field.