Unison’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the internal appointment of Jaun Park as incoming Chief Executive of the Unison Group, from April 2023.
Mr Park, who currently holds the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Unison Networks Limited, has been with the Hawke’s Bay based lines company for the last 16 years.
Mr Park joined Unison Networks in 2006 as Network Development Manager before moving into the role of General Manager of Networks and Operations in 2010, ahead of his promotion to COO in June last year. He is a Director on the Boards of two of Unison Networks’ subsidiary businesses – transformer manufacturer ETEL, and RPS Switchgear.
The appointment follows a rigorous recruitment process in the wake of current and long-standing Group Chief Executive Ken Sutherland’s announcement last year of his intention to retire in 2023.
Mr Park’s promotion from Chief Operating Officer of Unison Networks to Chief Executive of the wider Unison Group of companies will see him at the helm of a number of companies specialising in delivering a range of electricity and fibre solutions.
Unison Networks, which is wholly-owned by the Hawke’s Bay Power Consumers’ Trust, delivers electricity to the Hawke’s Bay, Rotorua and Taupō regions and owns subsidiary businesses offering a range of energy related solutions through Unison Fibre Limited; Unison Contracting Services Limited; ETEL Limited; RPS Switchgear Limited and high voltage contracting specialists PBA Limited.
Unison Networks Limited Chair, Philip Hocquard, says he and the Board are pleased to have Mr Park step up into the role as Group Chief Executive of Unison. “There’s no doubt that Jaun has had an important role in enabling Unison’s sustained success and growth over the last decade.
“Jaun’s vision for the business, his depth of experience and knowledge of the electricity sector together with his commitment to delivering quality services to Unison’s communities and customers is impressive.
“We face some unprecedented challenges in the years ahead. In the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle our immediate efforts are squarely focused on restoring power to our Hawke’s Bay customers and communities and rebuilding Unison’s cyclone ravaged network. However, it’s vital that we continue to keep an eye on the future at the same time. The cyclone has demonstrated, in dramatic fashion, the heavy reliance that communities have on sound electricity supply for daily living.
“Our climate is changing, our regions are changing, and our communities are changing. As Aotearoa New Zealand’s energy future evolves, we know that the electricity sector will be required to do much of the heavy lifting necessary to support the Country’s transition to a cleaner, greener electric future. We need to be ready for that.
“Having Jaun at the helm will ensure that Unison continues to deliver great service to its customers, whilst driving towards the Company’s vision to deliver a sustainable energy future that enables our communities to prosper.”
Mr Park will transition into his role as Group Chief Executive over the next six weeks, officially commencing his position on 18 April 2023. Until then Ken Sutherland remains Group Chief Executive as well as supporting Mr Park and the business in his transition until the end of April.
