Siemens New Zealand Appoints New Managing Director

Auckland, 8 February 2001 - Siemens Ltd. has appointed Graeme Sumner as the new Managing Director for Siemens New Zealand. Mr Sumner will take up the position from 1 February.

Mr Sumner has over 15 years experience working principally in the information technology and telecommunications industry sectors, and has been involved at a senior level with some of New Zealand's largest organisations. His experience includes senior operational roles in two of Siemens' key industry sectors: energy and telecommunications. He also has a strong background in business development.

Mr Sumner's previous roles include General Manager of Telecom Business Systems, where he was involved with one of New Zealand's largest installations of PABX equipment at the Department of Social Welfare. As General Manager of Retail for Contact Energy, he oversaw the organisation's transition from a wholesale provider of electricity to a retail organisation with over 400,000 customers.

Most recently, Mr Sumner was General Manager for SkyRoad and Kiwimail at New Zealand Post, as well as serving as Chairman of AirPost Ltd., New Zealand Post's joint venture airfreight company. Chairman and Managing Director for Siemens Ltd., Helmut Pekarek, welcomed Mr Sumner to the company, saying his abilities would assist the company develop its local presence.

"Siemens New Zealand is an important part of our Australasian network and we have significant growth opportunities in this market. Graeme's experience and skills will help drive the organisation forward as we develop our activities here."

Mr Sumner said he was looking forward to taking up the position.

"Siemens' ability to provide total solutions sets it apart from most companies. We have the capacity to install a single product or a deliver turnkey project across 10 broad industry groups - whose composition is as far apart as audiology, energy, rail transportation and mobile communications.

"The sheer knowledge within Siemens is simply staggering and I am looking forward to finding new ways of exploiting this experience to augment our customer focus and to deliver even better solutions to the New Zealand market. In particular, I am looking forward to delivering the "new" Siemens to New Zealand - a company focused on e-business and knowledge-based services and solutions. E-business will mean we will be open 24 hours a day and our services-orientation ensures that the typical supplier/customer relationship will be replaced by the establishment of long-term partnerships."

Mr Sumner was educated in Auckland and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Auckland University and an MBA from Massey University.

ENDS

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