Director of HW Richardson Group Scott O’Donnell has been appointed to the KiwiRail board, a move Minister for Rail Winston Peters says will bolster its freight expertise.

“Railways have no shortage of potential for New Zealand, and we expect to see sustained growth in earnings, revenue, volumes, reliability, and safety to turn this business into something great.”

O’Donnell is a current director of HW Richardson Group and was its managing director from 2006 to 2015. The Group owns 46 companies, employing 2000 people across six sectors including road freight.

He spearheads the HWR Group Property portfolio that is responsible for various projects across New Zealand.

“Mr O’Donnell, new chair Sue Tindal and thetTreasury have established a conflict-of-interest management plan, which will be reviewed and monitored.

“The company’s road freight operation is primarily south of Oamaru, and as such Mr O’Donnell will recuse himself from KiwiRail activities in this part of New Zealand,” Peters said.

“Mr O’Donnell has resigned as chair of HW Richardson-owned Dynes Transport but remains on its board, noting this company is receiving Government co-investment for a rail siding into a new Mosgiel road and rail freight hub.”