Port appoints new CEO

Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) has announced the appointment of Graeme Sumner as its new chief executive officer and he will take up the role from September 20.

Sumner, pictured, is currently an adviser and consultant to a number of companies and boards. He was also chief executive of Airways New Zealand, the state-owned enterprise responsible for the management and control of New Zealand’s airspace, between October 2017 and June 2022.

LPC’s board notes Sumner, who will earn $825,000 a year in his new position, also has an extensive international business providing products and services to 33 countries worldwide. 

Before joining Airways NZ, he held various leadership roles in New Zealand and Australia, including being managing director of Service Stream in Australia for three years between 2010 and 2013.

Prior to that he was managing director of Transfield Services New Zealand for three years from October 2005 to December 2008 and chief executive of Siemens New Zealand from January 2001 to September 2005. 

Sumner, who started his career working for IBM in Sweden and the UK, has also held general manager-level roles with New Zealand Post, Contact Energy and Telecom. 

He replaces Jim Quinn, who was made interim chief executive of LPC in April 2023 following the resignation of Kirstie Gardener after less than a year in the top job.

Barry Bragg, chairman, says Sumner is a seasoned chief executive with a track record in turning around and growing companies across several industries. 

“Graeme brings strong operational leadership capability, leading over 4,000 employees and contractors at Service Stream and nearly 3,500 at Transfield,” he adds.

“He understands critical infrastructure businesses with significant capital programmes. Graeme led Service Stream to become the largest installer of smart metering systems across Australia’s electricity sector and navigated the construction of two new air traffic control centres in Auckland and Christchurch with Airways New Zealand.” 

Bragg continues that Sumner has also worked in a public sector environment and is committed to building on the long-term social and economic value of LPC. 

Sumner says he’s looking forward to leading LPC and recognises the important part it plays in the economic and social fabric of the Canterbury region. 

“I’m excited to be involved in an organisation that is so critical to the success of the South Island and wider New Zealand,” he adds.