Australia’s largest rail freight operator, Aurizon has announced a number of changes to its senior management structure as part of an ongoing company restructure.
Aurizon Managing Director and CEO Lance Hockridge said the restructure would see four of his direct report roles merged into two roles, reducing the number of Executive Vice President (EVP) direct report roles to five.
“In light of this change and the reduction in EVP positions, current Executive Vice President Enterprise Services Jenny Purdie has decided to leave Aurizon at the end of July and Executive Vice President Human Resources John Stephens at the end of 2016,” Mr Hockridge said.
Mr Hockridge said the merging of functions and reduction in senior management reflected the current tough market conditions and would help deliver greater efficiencies in the company’s drive to continued improvement in financial performance.
Effective immediately, the Strategy and Business Development function will be merged with the Commercial and Marketing function.
Under the leadership of Executive Vice President, Commercial and Marketing Mauro Neves, the new Customer and Strategy function will assume the responsibilities of both existing functions.
David Welch the current Acting EVP for Strategy and Business Development will report to Mauro as Vice President Market Development.
Mr Hockridge said the functions of Enterprise Services and Human Resources would also be merged by the end of 2016.
“As we transition to the new structure, John will continue in his current role and Steve Mann will act in the role of EVP Enterprise Services.
“A recruitment search, including internal candidates, will be undertaken for the new role leading the merged function.”
Mr Hockridge said further detail on the new structure and its benefits would be provided as part of Aurizon’s full year results presentation in August 2016.
