News

Nelson Cull – New Chair for Eastland Group

The Eastland Group provides infrastructure to this region that is essential for sustainable economic development and Gisborne people should be proud of that says incoming Eastland Group chairman Nelson Cull.

"Gisborne people should be proud of what this company has achieved at the port and airport as well as delivering a constant and secure supply of electricity through its lines network. Without these strong assets providing access to and from the region for people, products and services, economic development would be very difficult to achieve".

Mr Cull, a business consultant from Auckland, will take over as chairman of the multimillion dollar Eastland Group on June 24. He brings a commercial focus on business excellence and believes - on the back of a record result - an organisation like the Eastland Group should be judged on more than just financial performance.
"Whilst returns to our shareholder, the Eastland Community Trust, are paramount, we also need to be judged on whether we are building good quality infrastructure that facilitates economic development for this region," he says.

"Are we offering local people opportunities for personal development and do we contribute at a community level? We need to ensure we continue to offer a rounded contribution."
A short to medium term focus will be working with the government to roll out its broadband network project. The Government's proposal is to target 25 regions with a $1.5 billion investment which will provide much improved access to broadband services.

"We see this as being integral to future economic development of this region just the same as the port, airport and electricity network," he said. "We have the ability to work with other network companies to use our easement rights which means we can be ahead of the game in delivering this service."

Mr Cull comes to the Eastland Group with significant experience at board level. He has served as chair and director of structural and civil engineering consultant firm MSC Consulting Group Ltd and Lanzafuels Ltd. He has completed a term as the SPARC appointed independent commissioner for NZ Football Inc and previously served on the board of Netball NZ during a period of enormous transition. Previous roles also include directorships of Guardian HealthCare, KeriFresh Ltd and an engineering services company called Techscape Ltd that was owned by Waitakere and North Shore City Councils.
He worked in the oil industry for Europa Oil, and then BP in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia before moving to Fletcher Challenge where he set up the new retail company Challenge Petroleum. A short move to Contact Energy was followed by a stint at the helm of New Zealand Works Infrastructure.

"This area has a strong horticultural base, good people, a rich mix of cultures and a wonderful East Coast environment that I remember well.
"I look forward to spending more time in Gisborne. I once looked after the area from Hicks Bay to Dannevirke and was a regular visitor here. It has a wonderful climate and it's such a joy to come here when it has just taken me an hour and a half to get to the airport in Auckland," he said.

Previous chairman Arthur Muldoon has retired after nine years of leading the company through significant change and development. Under Mr Muldoon's chairmanship, the ECT's portfolio, originally consisting of only the Eastland Network, grew to include the port. Subsequent growth of the group over the years has seen solid foundations established in the areas of energy, logistics, commercial property, aviation and, most recently, contract services. All businesses within the Eastland Group are ultimately governed under a common board.
Mr Muldoon said, "I retire from my position of chairman in the knowledge that the creation of the Eastland Group has resulted in a significant multi-sector diversified business providing strong commercial returns for its shareholder as well as ongoing essential infrastructure for the region".

Other notable initiatives of the group included taking on management of the airport, which received an extensive facility upgrade and is no longer dependant on the local ratepayer. Director Michael Andrews is also retiring his position held since 2003 and will be replaced by Wellington barrister Shaan Stevens.