Former east Auckland resident and experienced business leader Mark Darrow has been named the new acting chair of Auckland Transport (AT).
Darrow, who used to live with his family in Whitford, will take up his new role at AT from November 1 until Auckland Council selects a permanent chair to lead the agency’s board.
He replaces Wayne Donnelly, who’s been in the job since October last year.
Donnelly has asked to remain on AT’s board as its deputy chair until March next year.
Mayor Wayne Brown says: “We are very grateful to Wayne for stepping up to the chair role over the past year.
“It’s been a year where Auckland Transport has started to show improvements as they work to implement the direction given to them by the mayor and councillors.
“At the best of times chairing the Auckland Transport board is a challenging job and Wayne has stepped up to this admirably for the last year.
“I thank him wholeheartedly for his efforts and continued commitment to Auckland.
“I wish him and his family all the best and am pleased he is staying on the board.”
Brown says Darrow is a highly skilled director with real-world experience in the transport sector.
“I have great confidence in him to professionally deliver on what Aucklanders need.
“He is well placed to steer Auckland Transport while we go through the process to select a new chair.”
Darrow was first appointed to AT’s board in 2021 and has been supporting Donnelly as acting deputy chair and as chair of the finance and audit committee.
He lives in Auckland and is an experienced independent board chair and director with extensive knowledge across many sectors.
Darrow is a fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and of Charted Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
He’s chair of TSB Bank, Armstrong’s, Invivo and Co, MTF Finance, Riverton Farm and Inland Revenue’s risk and assurance committee.
