Tim Lusk named Meridian CEO

Media Release
For immediate release: 12:30pm Wednesday 9 April 2008

Tim Lusk named Meridian CEO

Meridian Energy board member Tim Lusk has been announced as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, replacing Keith Turner who stepped down at the end of March.

Announcing the appointment today, Meridian chairman Wayne Boyd said Mr Lusk brings a wealth of valuable commercial experience to the role, as well as wide knowledge of the electricity sector.

“Tim has had senior roles in Transpower and Telecom, which gives him a unique blend of experience with major infrastructure projects and in the regulatory environment. We feel he is ideally qualified to lead Meridian into the next phases of its development.

“As a recent board member, Tim is familiar with and deeply committed to the company’s strategy and direction.”

Mr Boyd says the appointment process has been thorough and robust, and the board is delighted to have been able to appoint someone of Tim Lusk’s calibre.

From 2002 to 2006 Mr Lusk was General Manager Wholesale with Telecom, prior to which he held executive positions in Transpower and Power New Zealand Ltd.

His electricity industry accountabilities ranged from engineering development, network pricing, system operations, marketing, customer relations and electricity market development.

He is currently CEO of the Marram Trust, formerly known as the Post Office Welfare Trust.

Mr Lusk says he is delighted and honoured to be appointed as CEO of Meridian.

“I am of course biased but Meridian is a very special company with a huge amount to contribute to NZ and it will be a privilege to lead the company and its people on the future stages of its growth, innovation and leadership.“

Mr Boyd says Mr Lusk has resigned from the Meridian board, and it is expected he will take up his new role as chief executive in mid-May.

Tim Lusk brief biography

· Born in Hamilton, 1944.

· Education – BE (Hons) Canterbury, NZ, plus four years post-graduate study in Operations Research (NZED Power System Fellowship), Canterbury University.

· Key professional roles include – Project Director at ECNZ, driving the $600m HVDC upgrade project (1989-1991); General Manager Network at Power New Zealand (1992-1994); General Manager of Transmission Services and later General Manager of Industry Development, both at Transpower (both roles spanning from 1995-2001); General Manager of wholesale services at Telecom NZ (2001-2006); CEO of The Marram Trust (from 1998 to present).

· Skills and expertise – Professional electrical generation, transmission, distribution engineering; large infrastructure project management; marketing and communications.

ENDS

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