Third executive jumps Delta ship

Half of Delta's executive leadership team has jumped ship as fallout from the pole scandal continues to rock the Dunedin company. Photo / File

Half of Delta's executive leadership team has jumped ship as fallout from the pole scandal continues to rock the company.

Whistleblower Richard Healey said staff had been informed this week that capability and risk general manager Matt Ballard was leaving the Dunedin City Council-owned company.

This followed the resignations of asset management general manager Derek Todd and energy and communication general manager Kewal Bagal.

The confirmation three of Delta's six executive leadership team have resigned comes as it and its sister company Aurora face renewed pressure from WorkSafe over Delta's accelerated programme to replace close to 3000 compromised poles.

A WorkSafe spokesman said it expected Delta to prioritise the replacement of poles in high-risk areas, including near schools.

It was also working with Delta and the other companies involved to ensure members of the public and workers were not put at risk while the accelerated programme was carried out.

Delta chief executive Grady Cameron said Mr Bagal resigned ''earlier in the year'' for another job and Mr Ballard was taking up an executive role in a different sector.

''They will remain in their current roles until the new year by which time the planning for the accelerated pole replacement programme will have been completed and a transition of their responsibilities will be in place,'' Mr Cameron said.

Both had been involved in planning for the transition.

He disputed Mr Healey's claim the programme was a ''knee-jerk'' reaction and overly ambitious.

''The poles in question were always going to be replaced.

''The accelerated programme uses additional internal and external resources to get the job done quicker.

''What won't change are the safety, risk management and work practice measures we have for the safety of workers, contractors and the public.''

The programme would prioritise the removal or repair of condition-zero poles close to schools, camping sites and other ''high social'' areas.

The Otago Daily Times has previously reported Mr Todd left for medical reasons.