Queen's Birthday Honours: Businessman helped build Super City

Douglas McKay left Independent Liquor to oversee the transformation of eight legacy councils into the Super City Auckland Council. Photo / File

Douglas Alexander McKay
Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and local government

Douglas "Doug" McKay has had leadership roles in some of New Zealand's largest companies.

As managing director of Lion Breweries in Auckland and China from 2000 to 2005, he oversaw the company's equity investment into China, start-ups in Europe and helped deliver significant growth in the US through strategic partnerships.

He was also chief executive of the tissue and packaging divisions of Carter Holt Harvey.

McKay held various executive roles in Goodman Fielder in Sydney as well as being its chief executive before the takeover by Graeme Hart.

He achieved record profits in 2005 as chief executive of Australasia's largest seafood company, Sealord, at a time when it faced major external shocks such as the halving of the hoki quota and the doubling of fuel prices.

After five years with Sealord, he was headhunted to lead Independent Liquor, which he successfully guided from family to corporate ownership.

In 2010, he left Independent Liquor to oversee the transformation of eight legacy councils into the Super City Auckland Council, a job he called "hugely challenging [and] exciting".

He holds governance roles in Genesis Energy, Ryman Healthcare, Insurance Australia Group New Zealand, BNZ, Chartered Accountants Australia and NZ, and chairs the Eden Park Trust.