Networks NSW CEO, Vince Graham will retire in December after 47 years of service.
Networks NSW Chairman, Roger Massy-Greene, said that following Mr Graham’s retirement, the current Deputy Chief Executive Officers at Ausgrid, Mr Trevor Armstrong, and Endeavour Energy, Mr Rod Howard, will be appointed as Acting Chief Executives pending the finalisation of the NSW Government’s lease transaction.
A recruitment process is underway for the role of Chief Executive Officer at Essential Energy, which is not subject to a lease transaction. Current Deputy CEO, Mr Gary Humphreys will be Acting CEO until a permanent appointment is made.
Mr Massy-Greene paid tribute to Mr Graham’s recent outstanding leadership in reforming the state’s three electricity distribution networks Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy.
“Vince Graham is an exceptional leader. I want to thank him for his sustained commitment and outstanding contributions to worker and public safety, and to improved customer outcomes through lower costs and continued reliability,” he said.
“Vince moved quickly after he was appointed to put NSW electricity customers front and centre as the basis for a most successful reform program. These reforms will continue for some time to come, but they have already delivered a remarkable transformation of NSW’s three electricity distribution networks.
“He has led much needed reforms while balancing our customers’ interests with those of our workers and other stakeholders.
“During his three years as Chief Executive Officer of Networks NSW, safety performance has improved significantly, and regulator approved capital and operating expenditure has been reduced by $3.1b. As a consequence, average residential network charges in NSW have been held below inflation over the past three years, after a number of years of often double-digit increases.
“Vince has driven difficult but necessary changes across the three networks since 2012 and championed sustainable improvements for the benefits of NSW families and businesses.
“He is a hard-working CEO of outstanding vision and personal integrity, and will be remembered for his strong leadership of State Owned Corporations across several industries including electricity transport and agriculture.
“Vince has a long and impressive record of service to NSW, and his courage, vision and commitment will be hard to match.”
Mr Graham began working in the public sector almost 47 years ago in 1969, when he started work as a civil engineer for the NSW Railways. In 1986 was appointed Managing Director of the Grain Handling Authority of NSW, and became Chief Operating Officer of the State Rail Authority in 1988. In 1992 he was appointed Managing Director of National Rail Corporation, and then became Chief Executive Officer of RailCorp in 2003.
In 2008, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Integral Energy, now Endeavour Energy. In 2012, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Networks NSW to drive the NSW Government’s network reform program at Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy.
“It has been a privilege to serve the people of NSW for all of my working life. I am particularly grateful for the support of my family,” Mr Graham said.
“I also want to pay tribute to the many dedicated employees I have worked with over my career who have embraced the difficult challenges of an ever changing economy and technology.”
In January next year the three businesses will be re-established as independent entities ahead of the proposed long-term lease transactions of Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy.
