New Telecom chief likes taking on the tough jobs

Wayne Boyd has several chairmanships.

Wayne Boyd, the man charged with leading Telecom into a new era of competition, is one of the country's most senior company directors.

The 59-year-old Aucklander is a qualified lawyer who practised for 18 years. He then spent five years working in merchant banking before establishing himself as a specialist business adviser and company director.

He has been active at the highest level of corporate governance for the past decade.

Boyd - an existing director of Telecom, chairman of Meridian Energy since last October and chairman of Auckland International Airport and Freightways - had been widely tipped to take over as chairman from Rod Deane. He is the preferred choice of institutional investors.

Last night, Boyd expressed a desire to rebuild the company's fragile relationship with the Government and customers.

"We want to be talking and working with the Government," he said. "We don't have all the answers yet and it's important to keep an open mind. Our actions will show that we are moving forward, listening and delivering."

Boyd has a history of dealing with Government regulators through his involvement with Auckland Airport and State-owned power company Meridian. He has been on the airport board for 10 years and chairman for the past eight. He was appointed chairman of Meridian in July 2005.

In June 2003, he was appointed as a director and elected chairman of Freightways, leading the company through listing on the New Zealand Stock Exchange.

He has been on Telecom's board since July 2004. His other directorships include investment house Forsyth Barr and Vulcan Steel.

Boyd also has a history of high level sporting achievement, playing hockey for New Zealand at a junior level. He coached the New Zealand women's hockey team at the 1984 Olympics and the 1987 World Cup as well as serving as chairman of the national Hockey Federation.