Crown Fibre Holdings
[ Last Updated 30 October 2009 ]
On 29 October 2009, Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce announced the formation of Crown Fibre Holdings Limited and appointed the inaugural board.
Role of Crown Fibre Holdings
The core role of Crown Fibre Holdings will be to operate the contestable partner selection process and to manage the government's investment in fibre networks. It will be tasked with:
- assessing responses to the Invitation to Participate in the partner selection process.
- investing the Government's $1.5 billion in local fibre companies so as to achieve the Government's 75 percent ultra-fast broadband target as quickly and efficiently as possible
- appointing board members to government-funded networks
- monitoring the performance of the government's investment
- approving technical and operational standards to achieve national consistency across networks.
Board Members
Mr Simon Allen (Chair) - Simon Allen is a highly regarded investment banker with more than 20 years experience advising New Zealand's major industries. He formed ABN AMRO New Zealand as a green-fields operation in 1988, leading it to become one of the country's foremost registered banks. He resigned as Chief Executive in September of this year. Previously Mr Allen has advised the Crown on the sale of Contact Energy Limited, the Auckland Energy Trust on its investment in Mercury Energy (now Vector) and Telecom Corporation of New Zealand on the largest share buy back in New Zealand history.
Mr Allen chaired New Zealand Exchange Limited (NZX) from 2001 until 2008 and has also served on the boards of McConnell properties, ABN Amro Craigs and Auckland Healthcare. He is currently a trustee of St Cuthbert's College in Auckland, and Snowvision, a charitable trust which promotes high performance snow sports.
Mr Andrew Body - Andrew Body has 19 years experience as a successful investment banker and private banker. He was a shareholder and Director of FR Partners until 2001. Since, he has continued his interest in investment banking, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, and strong experience in network industries.
Ms Miriam Dean QC - Miriam Dean has extensive governance and commercial law experience. A former Partner at Russell McVeagh, Ms Dean is currently a Barrister sole whose practise focuses on commercial and competition law, arbitration and mediation. She was made Queen's Counsel in 2004. Ms Dean has recently been appointed as a member of the Auckland Transition Authority and has participated in the Government's recent electricity review.
Dr Murray Milner - Murray Milner is a world class telecommunications technology expert with a doctorate in electrical engineering and 34 years experience in the New Zealand ICT industry. He held a variety of senior positions within Telecom New Zealand including, until September 2005, Chief Technology Officer. Since leaving Telecom in 2005 he has worked as a consultant and has also held a range of governance positions including Chair of Harmonic, a software development firm specialising in applications for the telecommunications, agriculture and telecommunications sectors.
Mr Keith Tempest - In December Keith Tempest will retire as Chief Executive of TrustPower, a Bay of Plenty based electricity generator, after 23 years with the firm. As Chief Executive he is recognised as having overseen strong commercial performance and has a strong track record of managing large capital projects.
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