Board of Directors
As the sole shareholder, the Trust appoints the directors of Centralines to operate the company in the interests of consumers.
The Board of Directors set the strategic direction, goals and policy for the operation of the company. The day-to-day operation of Centralines is the responsibility of the General Manager who relies on the support of their experienced team of technical staff and specialist trades people.
Directors’ profiles
Fenton Wilson - Chair
Born in Central Hawke’s Bay, Fenton was appointed to the Centralines Board in 2018.
Fenton was previously a Hawke’s Bay Regional Councillor/Chairman and has a good grasp of the issues and opportunities in Central Hawke’s Bay.
He is a Director of Quality Roading and Services (Wairoa) Limited, the roading business owned by Wairoa District Council and business advisor to the nationally based company 43 South. A professional director for 15 odd years he brings a range of governance skills to the Centralines Board table.
A passionate community advocate, Fenton is a trustee of the Predator Free New Zealand Trust which encourages community scale pest control and enables community groups and schools to increase biodiversity in their communities.
Fenton is optimistic about the future of Centralines with the company playing a key part in enabling the success of the community and providing energy security that will underpin growth going forward.
Anthony (Tony) Gray - Director and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee
Tony was appointed as a director to the Centralines Board in November 2020. He is a Fellow Chartered Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.
He is currently a director of several companies including Artemis Nominees Limited, Foodeast GP Limited, Quality Roading and Services (Wairoa) Limited, Chair of Ngā Hua O Ngāti Pūkenga Limited, and Ngāti Pūkenga Investments Limited.
Tony has also been on the boards of various companies including CLEAR Communications, Sky Network Television Limited, subsidiaries of Mighty River Power, EA Networks and the Eastland Group including a period as Interim Chair.
Previously, he was Chief Financial Officer at Hastings District Council and had also held senior finance roles at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Mighty River Power (now Mercury Energy) and TVNZ.
Tony was appointed Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2023 King’s New Year’s Honours list.
Sarah von Dadelszen - Director
Sarah was appointed to the Centralines Board in November 2020.
Sarah is a strong advocate for the local community and the wider primary sector. Sarah and her husband Sam farm in Central Hawke's Bay, and are committed to the district.
Currently the Chair of the FMG board, a few of Sarah’s previous governance roles include Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Trustee of AGMARDT, and an independent director of NZ Young Farmers.
She was a previous chair of the Central Hawke's Bay Consumers Power Trust which enabled her to gain a good understanding of the power industry.
Sarah has attended several governance and leadership forums including the international INSEAD business school governance programme in Singapore and France, along with the Institute of Directors’ programme. She also spent time at Stanford University with a New Zealand Primary Industry Leadership Group to gain deeper insight into global agri-business.
Len Gould - Director
Len joined the Centralines Board in November 2020.
He has more than 40 years’ experience in the electricity industry, having held senior positions at Unison Networks, Transpower, and also worked at the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand and its predecessor NZED. His knowledge and experience cover power system engineering, smart grids, commercial, transmission and distribution pricing, strategy, business development, mergers and acquisitions.
Len has a New Zealand Certificate in electrical engineering and has been a Registered Engineering Associate since 1986.
Kevin Best - Director
Kevin was appointed to the Centralines Board in July 2022.
He has extensive commercial and financial experience and was a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers for a substantial part of his executive career.
He has worked with a broad range of infrastructure intensive businesses, including within the electricity sector. He is a professional director and holds several governance roles including being the Chair of two private companies and a Director of The Skills Organisation.
