Chch City Council appoints directors to subsidiary companies

17 March 2005

Christchurch City Council today approved the appointment of several directors to its commercial operating subsidiaries.

Christchurch City Holdings (CCHL) chair Paddy Austin says the selection process followed the policy adopted by the Council in 2003 which requires that the best person for the position be selected. The process was rigorous and aimed to ensure each board has the appropriate mix of skills needed to provide effective governance. 

“The companies are important commercial assets and every attempt has been made to ensure that the board leadership of each company is able to contribute positively to their commercial growth and performance,” she says.

The chairs of each company were interviewed to help establish the skills needed for each vacancy. Advice was also taken from outside professional advisors, who then made a short list of candidates to be assessed by an interview panel of CCHL directors.

The new appointments are:

• Christchurch International Airport (CIAL) -- Philip Carter
• Orion Group Limited -- Gail Sheriff
• City Care Limited -- Hugh Martyn
• Red Bus Limited -- Chrissie Williams
• Christchurch City Facilities and Jade Stadium* -- David Cox, Chris Doig, Dominique Dowding, Hanlin Johnstone and Simon Mortlock

Dr Austin says each appointee has good governance experience and skills suited to the position. “The successful appointees have shown to the interview panels a wide range of excellent skills which will bring valuable contributions to the operation of these companies in the future,” she says.

* Last year the Council agreed to merge the boards of Jade Stadium Limited and Christchurch City Facilities. Chris Doig is a new director but the others have been on either Jade Stadium or Christchurch City Facilities in the past. Bruce Irvine was appointed to chair this company at an earlier City Council meeting.

● The six trading companies held by CCHL on average provide dividends of about $30 million a year to the City Council. For more information about CCHL, look on the web at www.ccc.govt.nz/ChristchurchCityHoldings/

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