Transpower appoints new members to its Executive

Media release
4 September 2008

Transpower appoints three new members to its Executive

Transpower New Zealand today announced the appointment of three new members to its Executive team – Mike Carter as General Manager Grid Projects, David Brewer as General Manager Grid Performance and Bob Simpson in a newly created role of Chief Engineer National Grid.

Mike Carter joins Transpower on Tuesday 28 October. Mike is English with a distinguished international career in project management - planning, development and leadership. A professional electrical engineer by trade, Mike has spent the last 18 years with National Grid International Ltd, based in the UK. Some of his achievements include: providing the world’s longest undersea electricity HVDC cable link together with new overhead lines between Victoria and Tasmania at a cost of NZ$1 billion and significant stakeholder, environmental and landowner challenges; and two major National Grid projects in India, and in the UK on developing technical and commercial proposals for asset replacement, infrastructure and new connection projects.

David Brewer joins Transpower on Monday 3 November. David is an Australian with significant New Zealand experience and has a first-class record in the expert management of complex engineering-based organisations. His previous positions include: General Manager of New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Ltd, where he led the company through some of the most significant and publicised changes in work practices ever seen in New Zealand, resulting in significant improvements in productivity and working relationships; senior roles with Rio Tinto in Australia including General Manager of Port Waratah, the world’s largest coal loading terminal; Chief Operating Officer of Central Mines; and most recently Group General Manager role at Queensland Rail.

Bob Simpson is currently Acting General Manager Grid Performance and will move into his new position on 1 November 2008. Bob is a professional electrical engineer with over 30 years of electricity industry experience, and has extensive asset and general management experience. Prior to joining Transpower in 1989, Bob worked in senior roles for NZED and Electricorp. From 1998 to 2004, Bob provided technical and managerial consulting servicesc to the electricity industry both in New Zealand and overseas. Bob is a Director of ESITO and a member of the Electricity Engineers’ Association and the Electricity Commission Transmission Advisory Group.

Transpower Chief Executive Patrick Strange said that he had been highly impressed with the calibre and standard of all of the candidates who applied for these roles.

“The primary focus of the Board and management team is now on engineering and operational performance, to ensure New Zealand has a strong and secure national transmission system."

“These three candidates each have the expertise to meet the challenges that this focus brings, and will help to successfully lead and implement Transpower’s upcoming major transmission investment and revitalisation programme."

“We look forward to Mike and David joining us over the next couple of months, and Bob taking up his new position in Transpower, and look forward to working with them all in their new roles."

ENDS

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