ATEED is pleased to announce that a new Chair has been appointed to take over from founding Chair, David McConnell, who is due to finish in the role in November.
Auckland Council’s Appointments, Performance Review and Value for Money Committee has approved the appointment of highly respected business leader, Mark Franklin, as the new Chair for ATEED.
Mark is a passionate Aucklander with an extensive commercial background and governance experience, and strong contacts and networks within local and central government through his involvement in several government projections and committees.
While he is stepping down as chair of the Committee for Auckland, leading the group since 2016 enabled Mark to demonstrate his commitment to effect positive change in Auckland’s future direction.
Mark has been Managing Director of Stevenson Group since 2010, and was previously founding Chief Executive of TZ1 – the NZX’s global carbon registry – and Chief Executive of Vector. He has regularly demonstrated his ability drive growth in complex organisations.
He is a strategic thinker with extensive experience in the infrastructure, energy and tech (IT and telco) sectors in New Zealand, Australia and Asia – giving him an excellent international perspective.
His governance experience includes being a former director of Kiwirail, WEL Networks, Ultrafast Broadband, Auckland Chamber of Commerce, and directorships at Stevenson Group.
Mark has a strong sense of public service and his deep commitment to Auckland’s success and growth has seen him involved with the Auckland Mayoral Housing Taskforce, and Deputy Mayor Industry Leaders Council.
He is also a respected figure within central government circles, having been a member of the Prime Minister’s Climate Change Leadership Forum, and the Australia New Zealand Joint Prime Ministers Leadership Forum.
There will be time later this year to acknowledge David McConnell for his astute leadership of ATEED since its inception in 2010, but Mark’s appointment gives great confidence that a new era for our organisation – with a newly adapted purpose and strategy in place from 1 July – will continue with a strong leader at the helm.
We look forward to helping Mark’s transition into the role, and working with him and the other directors as we deliver on our new tightly focused priorities alongside industry and partners, and ultimately support quality jobs for all Aucklanders.
