Media release

From garage to top gong - iiNet's CEO named Entrepreneur of the Year

18 November 2011 - iiNet's Chief Executive Officer, Michael Malone, has been recognised for his vision, leadership and business achievements after being named the Ernst & Young 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year in Melbourne last night.

The awards, now in their 11th year, recognise and celebrate the significant contribution entrepreneurs make to business communities.

Mr Malone said receiving the award was a great privilege and presented an opportunity to reflect on how far the business has come.

"Having just celebrated 18 years and as the second largest DSL broadband provider in Australia, iiNet has certainly come a long way. I'm extremely proud of where we are today and the direction we're heading in," Mr Malone said.

"I began my business in my parent's garage with the sole purpose of connecting myself to the Internet. Now, my staff connect and support more than 1.3 million services across the country."

Michael will head to Monte Carlo next year to represent Australia at the World Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

Michael Malone is available for interviews upon request. Please contact iiNet on 08 9214 2210 or media@staff.iinet.net.au.

For more information in iiNet, visit www.iinet.net.au.

- ENDS -

For further information, please contact:

Anthony Fisk or Jane Humphries
Communications - iiNet
Ph: +61 8 9214 2210
Email: media@staff.iinet.net.au

About iiNet 

iiNet is Australia's second largest DSL Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the leading challenger in the telecommunications market. We employ more than 2000 inquisitive staff across four countries and support over 1.3 million broadband, telephony and Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) services nationwide.

We're a publicly listed company and we maintain our own super-fast broadband network. Our vision is to lead the market with products that harness the potential of the Internet and then differentiate with award-winning customer service.

To achieve this, we employ creative thinkers and true advocates of technology. Our people are a huge part of the iiNet success story, so we've developed a unique and stimulating work culture to ensure they remain engaged and inspired.

A lot has changed since our CEO founded iiNet in a suburban garage back in 1993 and the broadband landscape continues to evolve. What hasn't changed is our passion for the transformative benefits of the Internet and our commitment to helping Australians connect better.