Jenny Shipley Joins Board of TTR

Former New Zealand Prime Minister and former Tata Steel MD Join Board of TTR, New Zealand Iron Sands Explorer

WELLINGTON. 9 May 2012. The Rt. Hon. Dame Jenny Shipley and ex Tata Steel, BHP Steel and Bluescope Steel Managing Director, Kirby Adams, have agreed to accept positions as independent non-executive directors of iron sands explorer, TTR (Trans-Tasman Resources Limited), following an election meeting held on May 8, 2012, following the company’s Annual General Meeting. At the same time, David Grant, a founding partner and director of TTR, has retired from the board while remaining a major shareholder in the company.

Bill Bisset, Chairman of TTR said, “We are delighted that two people with such impressive international experience and careers have joined our board. Dame Jenny’s established political credentials and Kirby Adams’ extensive experience at the top of the international steel industry will bring substantial value and profile to our board”

“As well as political strengths, Dame Jenny has strong, established commercial skills. These, combined with the impressive steel and titanium industry credentials from Kirby Adams, will make significant contributions to the board’s discussions about the future development of the business. We are fortunate that, of the many opportunities available to both of them, Dame Jenny and Kirby Adams have agreed to join TTR”.

Dame Jenny Shipley was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1997-1999 and chaired the Asia Pacific Economic Co-Operation (APEC) forum in 1999. She is a Director of China Construction Bank; by market capitalisation the world’s second largest bank. She is Chair of Genesis Energy, New Zealand’s largest electricity and gas retailer. She is also Chair of Mainzeal Construction, Momentum Consulting, Senior Money International and the Financial Services Council New Zealand. She is Vice President of The Club of Madrid, a group of former Presidents and Prime Ministers who share their expertise to promote democracy worldwide.

Kirby Adams is an experienced international director and chief executive with a proven ability to create substantial shareholder value in large, complex, multi-national businesses He was Managing Director and CEO of Tata Steel Europe (also known as CORUS) one of the ten largest global steel companies. Prior to that he was President and CEO of BHP Steel, and subsequently appointed the Founding Managing Director and CEO of Bluescope Steel, a substantial ASX listed company.

Through Bluescope Steel’s ownership of NZ Steel, which uses ore from New Zealand ironsands in steel manufacture, Kirby Adams gained valuable insights and experience about the potential of the ironsand resources.

Paul Berend, TTR CEO, has also thanked retiring board member, David Grant for his “major contribution to the development of the business. As well as being a founder investor, he has brought his outstanding corporate finance skills to the company. His significant experience in equity and debt markets, statutory reporting, treasury, taxation and corporate governance has played an important role in supporting and encouraging the board. We thank him for his work and dedication and are delighted that he will remain close to the company as a major shareholder.”

Ends…

© Scoop Media