The Government has announced Greg Miller as new KiwiRail board chairman.
It follows the resignation of Trevor Janes who left the board on June 30.
Miller is currently the managing director and chief executive of Toll New Zealand, a position he has held since 2008.
He began his career as a cadet in transport operations at Mainfreight Group, rising through the ranks to become a senior executive.
He has since held roles at Tranz Rail and Tranz Link International as managing director across New Zealand, Australia and Asia and was Toll Tranzlink director and group general manager from 2003 to 2008, where he chaired the Toll Tranzlink NZ Fonterra Strategy Committee.
State services minister Winston Peters says Miller’s appointment will help lead the Government’s commitment to rail and its role in the regions.
“Greg Miller’s leadership in the transport industry in New Zealand, in rail, road and sea transport, gives him a strong base for chairing KiwiRail and to help it meet the high expectations that the Coalition Government has for rail in New Zealand,” Peters says.
Finance minister Grant Robertson says he looks forward to working with Miller as new plans are rolled out for KiwiRail.
“The 2018 Government Policy Statement on Land Transport highlighted how critical rail is for improving transport connections to the rest of the world for our exporters. KiwiRail is an important partner in this,” Robertson says.
The appointment means Miller will also join and chair the New Zealand Railways Corporation NZRC board.
“I look forward to working with the KiwiRail team, from the railway workers at the coal face to the new chief executive of KiwiRail, to keep building this company and delivering a rail operation that performs for our customers in all cities and regions, with a competitive commercial strategy,” Miller says.
“I’m particularly keen to prioritise KiwiRail’s high-performance, high-engagement model where workers and executives collaborate to harness opportunities and improve productivity for the benefit of the whole company.”
Miller has been appointed for a term of three years. Acting chair Brian Corban will continue in the role and will resume the deputy chair position when Miller joins the board.
