3:45 PM -- The ongoing personnel changes at Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) are affecting more than just the top table. (See AlcaLu Unveils New Leadership Team.)

The vendor officially announced changes in Germany today -- see AlcaLu Germany Makes Changes -- but the more meaningful action has been happening elsewhere.

First up, Hilary Mine, the well-regarded managing director of Australasia and North Asia, who has been in charge of AlcaLu's extensive relationship with Telstra Corp. Ltd. (ASX: TLS; NZK: TLS), is leaving the company. (See Telstra, Alcatel Unveil IP Plan , Telstra Unveils Switch to IP, and Telstra, AlcaLu in R&D Pact.)

In an emailed response to questions, AlcaLu noted: "For personal family reasons, Hilary will return to North California at the end of this year. Following more than three years as Alcatel-Lucent’s Managing Director of Australasia and North Asia, Hilary Mine will leave the company at the end of this year. Effective December 1, 2008, Sean Dolan, Chief Operating Officer for Asia Pacific will take up the role of Acting Regional Leader for Australasia and North Asia (ANA), while Andrew Butterworth, will assume the role of Acting Country Senior Officer (CSO), Australia."

And according to a source close to the vendor's North American operations, one of AlcaLu's main PON (passive optical network) executives, Dirk Corsus, has resigned, having become disenchanted with the vendor's fiber access product line strategy, despite its initial success. It's not known whether Corsus has left to join another vendor.

That same source also tells Light Reading that other "high level defections" are likely at AlcaLu.

The arrival of a new leader at any company often results in headcount upheaval, and it seems AlcaLu is no exception. (See Verwaayen Takes the Helm at AlcaLu and The Diary of Ben V., Age 56.)

— Ray Le Maistre, International News Editor, Light Reading