Board of Directors
As the sole shareholder, the Trust appoints the directors of Centralines to operate the company in the interests of consumers.
The Board of Directors set the strategic direction, goals and policy for the operation of the company. The day-to-day operation of Centralines is the responsibility of the General Manager who relies on the support of their experienced team of technical staff and specialist trades people.
Directors’ profiles
Fenton Wilson - Chair
Fenton was appointed to the Centralines Board in 2018. He was previously a Hawke’s Bay Regional Councillor/Chairman and has a good grasp of the issues and opportunities in Central Hawke's Bay.
He is also a Director of Quality Roading Services (Wairoa) Limited, the roading business owned by Wairoa District Council.
A passionate community advocate, Fenton is a trustee of the Predator Free New Zealand Trust which encourages community scale pest control and enables community groups and schools to increase biodiversity in their communities.
He farms a 235ha sheep and beef property in Wairoa and has a distinctly rural background. He sees Centralines as a key contributor to the CHB community in a time of real growth.
Anthony (Tony) Gray
Tony was appointed as a director to the Centralines Board in November 2020.
He is currently a director of several companies including Artemis Nominees Limited, Foodeast GP Limited, Quality Roading and Services (Wairoa) Limited, Nga Hua Ngāti Pūkenga Limited, and Chair of Ngāti Pūkenga Investments Limited.
Tony has also been on the boards of various companies including CLEAR Communications and Sky Network Television Limited, and the Eastland Group.
Previously, he was Chief Financial Officer at Hastings District Council and has also held senior finance roles at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Mighty River Power and TVNZ.
Tony was appointed Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2023 King’s New Year’s Honours list.
Sarah von Dadelszen
A strong advocate for the local community and wider agricultural sector, Sarah joined the Centralines board in November 2020.
She lives with her husband Sam and three boys near Takapau, where they farm sheep, beef, and dairy.
Currently on the Ballance Agri-Nutrients board and Chair of the FMG board, Sarah’s previous roles include being a trustee of AGMARDT and Independent director of NZ Young Farmers.
She was the previous chair of the CHB Consumer Power Trust which enabled her to gain a good understanding of the power industry.
Sarah has attended several governance and leadership forums including the international INSEAD business school governance programme in Singapore and France, along with the Institute of Directors' programme.She has also spent time at Stanford University with a New Zealand Primary Industry Leadership Group to gain a deeper insight into global agri-business.
Len Gould
Len joined the Centralines Board in November 2020.
He has more than 40 years’ experience in the electricity industry, having held senior positions at Unison Networks, Transpower, the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand and its predecessor NZED. His knowledge and experience covers power system engineering, smart grids, commercial, transmission and distribution pricing, strategy, business development, mergers and acquisitions.
Len has a New Zealand Certificate in electrical engineering and has been a Registered Engineering Associate since 1986.
Kevin Best
Kevin was appointed to the Centralines Board in July 2022.
He has extensive commercial and financial experience and was a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers for a substantial part of his executive career.
He has worked with a broad range of infrastructure intensive businesses, including within the electricity sector. He is a professional director and holds a number of governance roles including being the Chair of two private companies and a Director of The Skills Organisation.
Kevin has family ties to the King Country but is now based in Auckland. He is a keen boatie and part of the leadership group of the Outboard Boating Club of Auckland which, as well as supporting safe boating, has a strong community and environmental focus.
