<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> After four years at the helm of KiwiRail, CEO Jim Quinn will be standing down from his position in February next year. </span> <p>KiwiRail chairman John Spencer said with the New Zealand operator’s turnaround plan "well initiated," the organisation felt it was time for a new chief executive to implement the next steps in driving the plan.</p><p>“This includes re-challenging the bottom line financial performance of the business as we continue to deal with a number of difficult economic factors,” Spencer said.</p><p>“This was a difficult decision and we appreciate Jim’s willingness to conduct this handover …”</p><p>During his four years as CEO, Quinn led a fast and wide-ranging reform of the business that included the development and implementation of a 10-year plan with the overall objective of establishing a sustainable, strong, national rail business.</p><p>“Under his leadership the freight business has grown by NZ$100m, with around NZ$1.4bn of capital investment on network improvements, new rolling stock and ferry infrastructure,” Spencer said.</p><p>“In addition to this, around $1.3bn has been invested in metro infrastructure improvements in Wellington and Auckland.”</p><p>Quinn’s contribution has provided a strong foundation for the future success of KiwiRail’s business and his replacement now has the opportunity to more deeply focus on KiwiRail’s financial performance for the next seven years of the strategic plan’s implementation, he added.<br /><br /> </p>
