Sir Ralph Norris to join Board as new Chairman

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

Friday 11 September 2015

Contact announces Sir Ralph Norris to join Board as new Chairman

Today Contact Energy Limited (Contact) announced that Sir Ralph Norris has been nominated to join its Board, and if successfully elected by shareholders, will be appointed as Chairman.

“I am honoured to have been appointed to the Board of Contact and I want to thank Directors for their endorsement,” Sir Ralph said. “If elected by shareholders at the annual meeting, I would look forward to contributing my skills and experience and am confident that Contact, as it enters its 21st year, will prosper as an independent company with a diverse range of shareholders.”

Phil Pryke, Contact’s Interim Chairman said, “The appointment of Sir Ralph follows a rigorous assessment of the skills and experience required to lead the Contact Board as we seek to reconstitute it.

“Sir Ralph brings deep customer experience from a 40-year career in banking as well as his transformational leadership during his time as CEO at both Air New Zealand and Commonwealth Bank of Australia. We strongly believe Sir Ralph’s experience and expertise will greatly assist the Board in guiding Contact as it continues to deepen its focus on providing customers with the quality of service and products they expect and which will create long-term value for our shareholders.

“Over the past five weeks I have met with investors to discuss the appointment of new board members and I have been pleased by the high degree of engagement on this matter. Their input is valuable as we progress our search for directors.

“I am sure, like me, they will be pleased to see such a high calibre candidate as Sir Ralph joining our Board. Sir Ralph’s experience and networks will be invaluable in the appointment process for the additional directors.

“It has been an honour to have been involved with Contact from its establishment and I am excited for its future but have decided to not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting. In the next few months I will work with the Board, Management and Sir Ralph to assist in an orderly transition, said Phil.

Sir Ralph will fill a casual vacancy from 12 November as an independent director. If successfully elected by shareholders, the Board intends to appoint Sir Ralph as Chairman immediately following the Annual Meeting. Contact has yet to announce the date of its Annual Meeting but expects it to be sometime in early December.

The Contact Board has determined that Sir Ralph Norris is an independent director.

Sir Ralph is currently a Director of Fonterra Co-Operative Group, Fonterra Shareholders' Fund, Origin Energy, New Zealand Treasury and Fletcher Building Industries and Chairman of RANQX Holdings. He lives in Auckland. Sir Ralph announced his intentions to step down from Fonterra and Origin in May and June respectively.

ENDS

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