The Board of rail network infrastructure agency ONTRACK has appointed William Peet as the agency’s new Chief Executive, Chairman Cam Moore confirmed today.
Mr Peet is currently ONTRACK’s Chief Operating Officer and has been Acting Chief Executive since the resignation earlier in the year of David George.
“The Board is delighted to confirm William’s appointment,” said Mr Moore. “Through the selection process he has demonstrated that he not only has an excellent grasp of the detail of the New Zealand rail industry but a vision for the industry’s future as well.
“Rail is experiencing a renaissance in many parts of the world. While New Zealand’s geography makes it a challenging country in which to maintain transport links it doesn’t diminish rail’s capacity to provide solutions to some of our most pressing transport issues.
“Making greater use of an under-utilised rail corridor has the potential to address pressure on the roading network from growing volumes of freight, rising fuel costs and the need to reduce carbon emissions.
“The number and quality of applications we received for the Chief Executive’s position indicates there is a growing appreciation of rail’s importance in New Zealand’s transport sector,” said Mr Moore.
William Peet has worked in the rail industry for fifteen years, beginning with New Zealand Rail Ltd and then working for both Tranz Rail and Toll NZ in senior management positions.
He was contracted to the New Zealand Railways Corporation in 2004 to assist in the transition of the rail infrastructure back into the public sector following the agreement between the Crown and Toll NZ under which the Crown bought the infrastructure for $1.
Shortly after, he was appointed ONTRACK’s Chief Operating Officer. Mr Peet is a Chartered Professional Engineer.