The Lyttelton Port Company has today appointed its fifth chief executive in as many years.

Graeme Sumner is currently an advisor and consultant to multiple companies and boards, and up until June 2022 he was the CEO of Airways New Zealand.

LPC chair Barry Bragg said Sumner is a seasoned chief executive with a track record in turning around and growing companies across a number of industries. 

“Graeme brings strong operational leadership capability, having led over 4,000 employees and contractors at Service Stream and nearly 3,500 at Transfield.  He understands critical infrastructure businesses with significant capital programmes,” Bragg said.

“Graeme has also worked in a public sector environment and is committed to building on the long-term social and economic value of LPC,” he said.

Sumner said he is looking forward to leading LPC and becoming a part of the port family.

“LPC is a port with a long and proud history, and I recognise the important part it plays in both the economic and social fabric of the Canterbury region,” Sumner said.

“I’m excited to be involved in an organisation that is so critical to the success of the South Island and wider New Zealand. I’m also pleased I’m able to get my feet on the ground at LPC so quickly,” he said.

Sumner will start at LPC on 20 September, and there will be a handover period with Interim CEO Jim Quinn.

Previous chief executives at LPC have been Kirstie Gardener who resigned abruptly in April this year — less than a year into the job, Roger Gray who stayed for two years, and long-serving Peter Davie.