Bill Osbourne

Ports of Auckland Limited (POAL) has announced that Liz Coutts has advised that after 10 years on the board, she will retire as chair and as a director of Ports of Auckland on 31 January 2021. Former All Black Bill Osborne will step into the role of acting chair.

Last year, Coutts notified the shareholder Auckland Council of her intention to retire as she wished to reduce the number of chair roles she holds. She has been a director of POAL since December 2010 and was appointed chair in 2015.

Coutts said she was proud of what the company has achieved in her time on the board.

“While there have been many challenges in my time at Ports of Auckland, including the debate on port location and recent challenges as a result of Covid-19, overall the company has performed well in this time.

“Looking to the future, the 30-year Master Plan and automation project will be transformational. It will nearly double port capacity, improve safety and efficiency, and provide a range of benefits to Aucklanders,” said Coutts.

“Being chair of Ports of Auckland during five years of unprecedented challenges has been a privilege for which I will always be both grateful and proud.

“Staff at Ports of Auckland should be proud of their achievements and can feel confident that the company is set up for an exciting and successful future. I wish everyone who works at Ports of Auckland, its Board, and its new chair well.”

Osbourne was appointed a director in May 2017. He is a professional director, chairs Page & Macrae Limited and is on the board of Transpower. He is currently the president of New Zealand Rugby. Recent directorships include Planttech Research, CoreLogic NZ, and 2 Degrees mobile. Bill also has a past background in international logistics having been group manager international for NZ Post.