MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
Friday 11 September 2015
Phil Pryke announces retirement from Contact Board
Following the announcement today that Sir Ralph Norris will be joining the Board of Contact Energy Limited (Contact) as
a new independent director and if successfully elected by shareholders will be appointed as Chairman, Phil Pryke has
announced that he will be retiring from the Contact Board and not seeking re-election at the Annual Meeting.
Phil has been involved with Contact since its establishment in 1995 and was the Chairman of the Board until October
2004. Since then, Phil has been Deputy Chairman and the lead independent director and was instrumental in helping
Contact prosper through its many challenges and opportunities. Phil has guided Contact through its recent $2bn
investment programme which positions Contact well for the New Zealand energy market.
“It is with a great sense of pride, and, I’ll admit, a tinge of sadness that I have decided to retire from the Board of
Contact and therefore not seek re-election at the Annual Meeting,” Phil said.
“In the 20 years I have been involved with Contact I have seen it develop and grow from a collection of ECNZ assets to
the strong integrated energy company that it is today.
“As part of the process to find and appoint new directors and a Chairman, I have spoken with investors – large and small
– to gather their input on the types of skills and expertise required to direct Contact in the future. While a large
part of me would like to continue on as a director now is the time for Contact to benefit from different expertise and
fresh perspectives.
“I am excited to be handing over the role of Chairman to Sir Ralph Norris, who has the experience and expertise for the
next stage in Contact’s future. During the next few months I will work with Board, Management and Sir Ralph to assist in
an orderly transition.”
Dennis Barnes, CEO of Contact said, “I’d like to thank Phil on behalf of Contact, his fellow Board members and our
shareholders for his outstanding contribution to Contact over the last 20 years. During my time as CEO, Phil has
provided me with invaluable guidance and advice and while he will no longer be on our Board I hope that I can continue
to draw on his unparalleled experience in the New Zealand electricity market.”
Mr Pryke will stand down from his role as Interim Chairman and Independent Director at Contact Energy’s Annual Meeting
later this year.
Phil Pryke is currently a director of Contact Energy, a board member of Goodman Group and a director of North Ridge
Partners Pty Limited, Tru-Test Corporation Limited, and Goodman (NZ) Limited.
ENDS