Resignation of Chief Executive of Ministry of Transport

19 March 2008

The State Services Commissioner, Mark Prebble, announced today that Alan Thompson, Chief Executive and Secretary for Transport has resigned.

Mark Prebble said Alan Thompson has resigned to take up the position of Secretary, Department of Parliamentary Services for the Australian Parliament in Canberra.

"In the three and a half years that Alan Thompson has been in New Zealand he has made a significant contribution to the transport sector," Mark Prebble said.

Mr Thompson has been Chief Executive of the Ministry of Transport since May 2006. Prior to this role he had been appointed as the inaugural chief executive of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA), where he established a clear agenda for the expansion of public transport in Auckland.

"As Secretary of Transport, he has led a major change process for the Land Transport sector in New Zealand, as well as strengthening the policy capability of the Ministry. He has also overseen the development of an updated Transport Strategy for the country. This strategy is now nearing completion.

"Alan Thompson will leave the Ministry of Transport in mid May. I’m sorry to see him go and wish him well in his new job," Mark Prebble said.

The process of identifying a successor to lead the Ministry of Transport will begin shortly.

ENDS

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