It’s a warm welcome today to Rhys Jones, our new chief executive officer. He joins us from Darwin Port, where he was general manager of engineering.

Rhys has a big role that will see him leading the continued integration of Northport and Marsden Maritime Holdings, as well as the group’s drive to realise the potential of the combined port and land business for commercial growth and Northland regional economic development.

He brings over 20 years’ experience in the port and marine infrastructure sector, spanning strategy and trade growth, capital project delivery, marine and landside infrastructure, port operations and asset management. He has a deep understanding of port ecosystems and an impressive record of accomplishment in securing complex commercial outcomes, developed over eight years at Darwin Port in progressively senior leadership roles.

He is a chartered professional engineer and has led many large-scale, technically complex marine and port infrastructure projects, including dredging and berth-related works, delivering projects on time and on budget.

We said farewell yesterday to former Northport chief executive Jon Moore, who is retiring. When Jon announced his retirement in August last year our Chair, Julia Hoare, said that under his leadership, the port  had experienced tremendous growth with remarkably few growing pains, evolving from a construction site to one the country’s most efficient maritime facilities.

Jon expressed his gratitude yesterday to the Northport team, customers, port users, suppliers, industry colleagues and members of Northport’s neighbouring communities who had helped make his 19 years in the role both enjoyable and impactful.

He won’t be leaving the premises just yet, however. He will be assisting with the handover to Rhys for the next month or so.