Newly-appointed Aurizon chief executive Andrew Harding has wasted little time making big changes at the Queensland rail operator, naming a new chief financial officer on December 15.
Pam Bains will be elevated from her current role as vice president of network finance to become the next CFO of the ASX-listed business.
Harding said outgoing CFO Keith Neate was leaving this week “by mutual agreement”.
“Keith has been with Aurizon for the past five years and has done a good job helping with the successful transformation work to date as well as developing the internal capability of the Finance team,” Harding, the former iron ore boss at Rio Tinto, said.
“However I have a strong view on the work that needs to be done to further reform Aurizon, drive down costs and improve competitiveness and efficiency.
“On behalf of shareholders I want to take Aurizon to the next phase of growth and development and I believe Pam will be an asset to my executive leadership team in helping deliver this goal.”
Prior to joining Aurizon, Bains was head of finance, customer service at Telefonica O2 UK. She has also held senior management roles at Next PLC, General Electric and Arthur Anderson.
Bain is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.
Aurizon will deliver its Half Year Results on February 13, 2017. Hardin said financial and volume guidance for FY17 remains unchanged.