DAYS AFTER apologising to customers whose data was stolen in a major cyberattack, Telecommunications Services (TSTT) chief executive officer Lisa Agard has been replaced.

A release from the company on Tuesday said former TSTT GM (customer experience and marketing) Kent Western was appointed Acting CEO with immediate effect. It did not give any reason for the executive management change, or if Agard resigned or was fired.

Communication Workers Union (CWU) general secretary Clyde Elder told Newsday that an e-mailed memo was issued during the day informing staff that Agard had been replaced. That e-mail, he added, did not give a reason for her departure.

Elder claimed that information he received, was that this was a firing over TSTT's handling of the cyberattack which saw some six gigabytes of customers' personal information – including ID and DP numbers and home and business addresses – being placed on the dark web. The leak was subsequently deemed a threat to national security by the Prime Minister.

"My information is that she was in fact dismissed. But in the corporate world, you don't come out and say a CEO has been dismissed. You come out and say he or she has chosen to resign, or that the parties have decided to go their ways amicably and separately...but I am told it was a dismissal," he said.

Although Agard initially answered a call from Newsday and promised to return the call in an hour, she did not. She however responded to a WhatsApp message asking for her views on Elder's claim (that she had been fired). Agard said: "I think you need to address your questions to the (TSTT) board."

Board chairman Sean Roach also did not answer calls but told Newsday in a WhatsApp message that the company would not be divulging details surrounding Agard's departure.

"It is not our policy to discuss any matter involving company personnel publicly. We can, however, say that the former CEO's departure was in accordance with the terms and conditions of her contract. As chairman of the board of TSTT, we would like to wish her well in all her future endeavours," Roach said.

Less than five hours before TSTT's announcement, Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales told reporters on Tuesday morning that he was not aware of any resignations from TSTT's management.

[caption id="attachment_1045361" align="alignnone" width="862"] Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales. - Angelo Marcelle[/caption]

"When I left my office this morning, I did not see any letter of resignation. It might change, maybe after lunch," he said. Gonzales was speaking to reporters at the opening ceremony for a TTPost records management facility and delivery office in Tacarigua.

Elder said Agard's departure was a step in the right direction. "It is a start, but not the end of the union's concerns, because there are some other players who should be fired along with Lisa Agard. She cannot take this fall by herself. While she is ultimately responsible, she is not solely responsible and there are people who encouraged and created the environm