Vector > Corporate > Board of directors

Board of directors

Michael Stiassny, BCom, LLB, CA Michael Stiassny, BCom, LLB, CA
Chairman and independent director
Michael Stiassny is a chartered accountant and partner of KordaMentha in Auckland. He has significant experience in investigating accountant work, company restructuring, due diligence and insolvency. He is a director of a number of public and private companies. Michael is a Fellow (FinstD) and council member of the Institute of Directors of New Zealand, and chairman of the Institute’s Auckland branch. Michael has been on the Vector Board for ten years.
Peter Bird, BA, MA, PhD Peter Bird, BA, MA, PhD
Independent director
Peter Bird was, until June 2012, Executive Vice-Chairman of Rothschild’s South East Asian global financial advisory business. His experience includes advising large corporates and governments on a range of issues including acquisitions and disposals, privatisation, project and acquisition financing, mutualisation, insolvency and debt restructuring. Peter has worked as an economic consultant, as an economic researcher in the energy sector and as an academic economist at Stirling University. Peter has been a Vector board member for five years and four months.
James Carmichael, BE, FIPENZ James Carmichael, BE, FIPENZ
Non-independent director
James Carmichael is a trustee of the Auckland Energy Consumer Trust and an executive of Energy Trusts of New Zealand Inc. His significant international energy sector experience includes responsibility for multi-billion dollar energy assets and acquisition strategy for Power-Gen International Limited and thermal and hydro power generation investment decisions for Ranhill Power Berhad. James has been a Vector board member for three years and eleven months.
Hugh Fletcher, BSc, MBA (Stanford), MCom (Hons) Hugh Fletcher, BSc, MBA (Stanford), MCom (Hons)
Independent director
Hugh Fletcher is a former CEO of Fletcher Challenge Limited and is a director of Fletcher Building Limited, Insurance Australia Group Limited and Rubicon Limited. He is also non-executive chairman of IAG New Zealand Limited and a member of L.E.K. Consulting Pty Limited’s Australasian Advisory Board. Hugh has been a Vector board member for five years and four months.
Jonathan Mason, MBA, MA, BA Jonathan Mason, MBA, MA, BA
Independent director
Mr Mason has extensive commercial experience having worked in the oil and gas, chemicals, forest products and dairy industries in the USA and New Zealand. He held the position of Chief Financial Officer at Carter Holt Harvey in 2000 -2005 and is currently Chief Financial Officer at Fonterra, but is stepping down later this year. Jonathan came to Fonterra from Cabot Corporation in the United States where he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 2006. Jonathan’s move to Fonterra was his second move to New Zealand, having lived here in 2000 to 2005 for his role as Chief Financial Officer for Carter Holt Harvey. From 1985 to 2000 he worked in a variety of financial management positions at International Paper and ExxonMobil Corporations.
Alison Paterson, CNZM, QSO, DCom(hc), FCA, ADistFInstD Alison Paterson, CNZM, QSO, DCom(hc), FCA, ADistFInstD
Independent director
Alison Paterson is chairman of BPAC New Zealand Limited, Farm IQ Systems Limited, Stevenson Agriculture Limited, NZ Formulary Limited and the Governing Board of the Centre of Research Excellence for Growth and Development (The University of Auckland). She is also the deputy chair of Stevenson Group Limited, a director of Abano Healthcare Group Limited, a Pro Chancellor of Massey University and a member of the NZ Markets Disciplinary Tribunal. Alison has been a Vector board member for five years and seven months.
Karen Sherry, MA (Hons), LLB (Hons) Karen Sherry, MA (Hons), LLB (Hons)
Non-independent director
Karen Sherry has been a trustee since 1994 and is a former chair of the Auckland Energy Consumer Trust. She is also the chair of Energy T rusts of New Zealand Inc, a trustee of Auckland Healthy Houses Trust, a former trustee of Challenge Trust and a former director of Mercury Energy. Karen has recently been appointed director of Auckland SPCA. Karen is a principal of the firm Bell-Booth Sherry where she specialises in commercial and trust law. Karen has been a Vector board member for six years and two months.
Bob Thomson, BEng (Electrical), DipBS Bob Thomson, BEng (Electrical), DipBS
Independent director
Bob Thomson was chief executive of Transpower Limited, and has been an adviser to Energy Trusts of New Zealand Inc since 2004. Prior to his appointment at Transpower, he held a range of senior management and engineering positions in the New Zealand Electricity Department and Electricity Corporation of New Zealand Limited. He was involved in the reform of the electricity industry, including being a board member of the Electricity Market Company Limited from 1994 to 1998. He is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Engineers. Bob has been a Vector board member for seven years and seven months.