New Auckland International Airport chairman Tony Frankham is no stranger to boardroom battles.
A chartered accountant and professional director, he was brought in to chair troubled plastics company Vertex on Christmas Eve 2004 and resolve a bitter split between board members.
That conflict ultimately resulted in a long-runningtakeover which saw the company bought by Masthead in 2005.
Frankham was also chairman of Capital Properties in 2005. resisting, but ultimately failing to prevent, the hostile takeover of that company by AMP Property.
He earned a place in Winston Peters' legendary Winebox after putting together the independent valuation of Fay Richwhite before its takeover by Capital Markets in 1990.
But Frankham has also had a long and steady tenure on the airport board, which he joined in 1994 before the airport's privatisation.
The only time his position on the airport board has been in doubt was in 2005 when Auckland and Manukau City councils decided to vote against his re-election for unknown reasons. He was narrowly re-elected.
Frankham's current directorships include tourism company New Zealand Experience and ProCare Health. He remains a consultant for accountancy firm Grant Thornton.
He has served on the Takeovers Panel and was chairman of the Chartered Accountants Institute's disciplinary tribunal.
