Management Team

Meridian Energy's management team is made up of:

Mark Binns/Chief Executive
Neal Barclay/General Manager, Markets and Production
Paul Chambers/Chief Financial Officer
Bill Highet/General Manager, Retail
Glen McLatchie/General Manager, Information and Communications Technology
Kate Peterson/Culture & Change
Andrew Robertson/General Manager, Business Development
Ken Smales/General Manager, Renewable Development
Guy Waipara/General Manager, External Relations

Mark Binns 

Chief Executive

Mark Binns joined Meridian as Chief Executive in January 2012. Prior to this appointment Mark was Chief Executive of the Infrastructure Division of Fletcher Building Limited, the company’s largest division.

Mark has worked at Fletcher Building and its predecessor, Fletcher Challenge Limited, for 22 years.  During this period he was responsible for operations in Australia, Asia, South America, USA and the South Pacific, as well as New Zealand. 

His career has seen him closely involved in some of New Zealand’s largest infrastructure projects, including Waterview, Eden Park, SKYCITY, Te Papa and the Manapouri tunnel. By training he is a qualified lawyer and was previously a partner at Simpson Grierson in Auckland.

Neal Barclay 

General Manager, Markets and Production

Neal has headed up Markets and Production since October 2009. He joined Meridian in July 2008 as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Meridian Neal, a chartered accountant (NZICA), held a number of general manager roles in a 13-year career with Telecom New Zealand.

Neal is accountable for the Company’s New Zealand asset portfolio, comprising nine hydro power stations and three wind farms that deliver around 30% of New Zealand’s electricity generation, and for the company’s wholesale trading and risk position.

Paul Chambers 

Chief Financial Officer

Before taking up his role at Meridian in 2009, Paul was Chief Financial Officer of Transfield Services New Zealand. Paul has extensive senior finance experience in a variety of industries, including ports, manufacturing and retail, both in the UK and France.

Paul is a chartered accountant (NZICA and ICAEW). Paul’s team has responsibility for strategy coordination, performance measurement, external reporting, funding, risk management coordination, procurement and financial transaction services.

Bill Highet 

General Manager, Retail

Bill was Chief Operating Officer of Whisper Tech Limited from 2001 to 2008, having previously helped to establish the company while New Ventures Manager at Southpower (now Orion) in 1995.

Prior to joining Southpower in 1993, Bill held engineering, project management, commercial and business development roles, all in the electricity industry. He has also filled general manager roles at Enerco (a natural gas company) and at Telecom NZ.
Bill is a past director of Whisper Tech Limited, Network Waitaki Limited, Pulse Business Solutions Limited, CallSouth Limited and Connetics Limited. He was also a non-executive director of Meridian subsidiary, Arc Innovations, from its establishment in 2006 until early 2008.

Bill was CEO of Flight Experience Group Limited prior to taking up his appointment as General Manager for Retail, Meridian Energy in October
2009.

Bill’s team is focused upon delivering a profitable and differentiated offer and service to our customers.

Glen McLatchie 

General Manager, Information and Communications Technology

Glen joined Meridian as General Manager for Information Communication and Technology (ICT) in May 2010. Glen has an extensive background in delivering business and information technology change on a global scale, having held a number of general management positions on both the client and vendor side of ICT.

Just prior to joining he was the Director of ICT Transformation and Strategic Planning for Contact Energy. Glen has also held several senior management roles with global responsibility over a 13-year period with BP Oil International, with the majority of this time based out of Melbourne and London.

Glen and his team are responsible for ensuring Meridian has the ICT infrastructure, data, processes and applications to properly manage the business and its operations.

Kate Peterson 

General Manager, Culture and Change

Kate joined the Meridian Management team in early 2009. She brings to her role a strong background in people and operations management, having spent many years with Lion Nathan and more recently with PGG Wrightson and the Gough Group during periods of significant change.

At Meridian, Kate and her team have a particular focus on developing strategies to further build the capabilities and skills of Meridian’s people, so that the company can deliver its business objectives and aspirations.
 

Andrew Robertson 

General Manager, Business Development

Andrew has extensive experience in the New Zealand electricity industry.
Prior to taking on his current role, Andrew operated in senior generation business development roles in Meridian’s asset management and growth areas.

Before joining Meridian, Andrew held numerous roles with ECNZ, including management roles in finance and operations, before participating directly in the industry reform that led to the formation of Meridian.

As General Manager of Business Development, Andrew is responsible for leading the adoption and commercialisation of renewable energy technologies and solutions to create and capture future value.

Ken Smales 

General Manager, Renewable Development

Ken has 40 years’ experience in the New Zealand electricity generation industry, including design, construction, commissioning and operations and maintenance.

Ken was Generation Director from the Company’s establishment until taking up his Renewable Development role in January 2004.

Ken’s team has primary responsibility for delivering on Meridian’s strategic goal of delivering more renewable generation growth, and cementing Meridian’s place as the premier Australasian developer of renewable generation in New Zealand and overseas.

Guy Waipara 

General Manager External Relations

Guy Waipara (Rongowhakaata) was appointed as General Manager External Relations in August 2010.

Guy is responsible for Meridian’s corporate reputation, which includes company brand, relationship management, regulatory and external communications.

Guy has previously held roles in Meridian in offshore business development and setting company strategy. He has over 20 years experience in the electricity sector and previously worked at Transpower in roles responsible for transmission planning and network development.