Genesis CEO “Pushed” By Parker
June 25th, 2008
Departing Genesis Energy CEO Murray Jackson appears to have been pushed out of the job by Energy Minister David Parker, over his outspoken views on the shaky state of NZ’s electricity system. Jackson, who leaves Genesis on August 31 after nine years at the helm, is understood to have been negotiating a new contract when Parker stepped in and vetoed his reappointment.
At last week’s Electricity Engineers’ Association conference in Christchurch last week, Jackson told delegates: “I’m a devoted greenie but unfortunately this Govt believes I’m a thermal advocate. As a result, my contract is not being renewed.” Ironically, it has been the Genesis-owned coal-fired Huntly Power Station which has helped NZ avert an energy crisis this winter. Jackson has repeatedly warned the Govt of a looming crisis in the NZ electricity sector, a message the Govt apparently doesn’t want to hear. He is worried about the fragility of the inter-island HVDC link and warns a failure could see the whole electricity system collapse.
Jackson will return to his native Aust at the end of August. He is the second electricity industry boss to allege he was pushed out by Parker. Former Electricity Commission Chairman Roy Hemmingway was effectively sacked after an acrimonious fallout with Parker and former Transpower CEO Ralph Craven over the grid upgrade into Auckland.
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