Telstra shares hit a four-month low of $2.59 yesterday as the ASX fell more than 2 per cent on fears of a nuclear calamity in Japan.

TELSTRA'S head of human resources, Andrea Grant, has left the telco as it continues to trim staff and streamline operations on its way to becoming a more sales-focused company.

Ms Grant joined in late 2005 under Sol Trujillo, who led a long-running war with unions over wage disputes. During that time Ms Grant was one of Telstra's main liaisons to the telco's main union, the Communications Electrical Plumbing Union, which fought an industrial war against Telstra to secure a company-wide agreement for workers stuck on Howard-era Australian Workplace Agreements.

Yesterday, Telstra chief executive David Thodey, who has signalled a ceasefire with the unions since taking charge in 2009, thanked Ms Grant for her contribution. "Andrea has transformed the human resources portfolio at a time of enormous change in the internal and external environments," he said.

Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.

End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.

The CEPU was less friendly. "We believe the HR scene within Telstra over the last five to 10 years has been an absolute disgrace and we wish Ms Grant the best of luck," CEPU divisional president Len Cooper said.

Telstra has started a search for Ms Grant's replacement. Until an appointment is made, Tracey Gavegan, a senior executive in Telstra's human resources business unit, will lead the function.

Telstra shares hit a four-month low of $2.59 yesterday as the ASX fell more than 2 per cent on fears of a nuclear calamity in Japan.