The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has announced a newly appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
Mark Campbell will join the ARTC from leading construction materials firm Holcim, where he was CEO of the company’s Australia and New Zealand divisions for eight years.
A civil engineer by trade, Mr Campbell brings more than 30 years of international experience in both light and heavy industrial fields, such as quarrying, minerals processing, coal mining, concrete manufacturing and logistics, including road, rail and shipping.
ARTC Chairman, Warren Truss, said Mr Campbell will be based in ARTC’s head office in Adelaide but, in light of current travel restrictions, will initially work from ARTC’s Sydney office. Retiring CEO, John Fullerton, will support Mark’s transition into the role over the coming weeks.
“Mark’s outstanding strategic and commercial acumen will help guide ARTC and the essential service we provide for our nation, including our vital role in continuing to move critical supplies to cities and regional towns across the country in response to COVID-19,” Mr Truss said.
“We look forward to Mark leading ARTC into an exciting future for Australia’s rail sector, which is set to play an increased role in the freight and transport industry over the next decade to help drive national productivity and the economic growth of the nation.”
Mr Truss said theCoronavirus pandemic has highlighted how crucial the freight industry is to Australian families, businesses and the economy, and he paid tribute to retiring CEO, John Fullerton.
“On behalf of the ARTC Board, I would like to pay tribute to John for his outstanding career in the rail industry, which has spanned more than 40 years, including the past nine as head of ARTC.
“Unyielding in his efforts to promote the value of rail and transport supply chains to the national economy, John’s knowledge and guidance will be greatly missed, but we wish him every happiness in the future.”
CEO of the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), Caroline Wilkie, welcomed the appointment of Mr Campbell and said his wealth of senior management experience would add further capability to the ARTC’s crucial role as one of Australia’s largest rail infrastructure managers.
Ms Wilkie also paid tribute to the outgoing Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, John Fullerton, who was appointed to the role in 2011.
“Under his leadership, the ARTC has been reinvigorated through a wide-reaching transformation program that has seen the company become more competitive, customer-focused and results-oriented.
“He has put in place an organisation with the capacity to construct and maintain billions of dollars’ worth of rail infrastructure, and led change within ARTC itself, resulting in major advances in the company’s safety performance, customer focus and asset improvement.”
The Australian Logistics Council (ALC), CEO, Kirk Coningham, said he was looking forward to working with Mr Campbell to further enhance national freight rail efficiency and safety.
“ARTC has been a long-standing Corporate Member of ALC and our organisations have worked together closely to secure regulatory and investment outcomes that support the vital role rail plays in Australia’s national freight network,” Mr Coningham said.
“In particular, the decision of the Federal Government to fund the construction of Inland Rail in 2017 was a watershed moment, following many years of advocacy by our organisation and the leading transport and logistics companies we represent.”
“The construction of this 1,700km freight rail link between Melbourne and Brisbane is already delivering economic and employment benefits to regional communities, and its completion will be vital in allowing Australia to efficiently meet a growing freight task and build new domestic and international trade opportunities.
“Mr. Campbell’s extensive prior experience in the construction and infrastructure sectors means he is well-placed to continue driving the improvements to rail infrastructure and safety which are at the heart of all ARTC’s activities.
“ALC also takes this opportunity to again acknowledge the substantial contribution that retiring CEO John Fullerton has made in his role since 2011.”
