Police locate car belonging to missing executive

Fears for the safety of Grant Atkinson have increased since he was last seen on Tuesday morning. Photo / NZPA

Police have found the car of Grant Malcolm Atkinson, an Auckland executive manager who has been missing since he left for work on Tuesday.

They are focusing their search on a rural area northwest of Auckland after finding the car at 12.30pm today.

Mr Atkinson, 48, disappeared on his way to work from Auckland's North Shore. He was last seen by his wife as he left for work at 8am.

His disappearance was "unusual" and "out of character", police said.

Mr Atkinson is chief risk officer at Marac Finance, a finance, insurance and investment company.

"The family's concerns for his safety and wellbeing are increasing," police said.

Mr Atkinson lived in Campbell's Bay and had a large network of friends, relatives and associates.

He was last seen wearing dark grey business trousers, a light blue long-sleeve shirt and black leather shoes.

He had set off on a black Holden Calais, registration MARAC3, but did not arrive at work, police said.

Marac Finance is based in Newmarket, and is owned by Pyne Gould Corporation.

Neither Mr Atkinson's cellphone nor other personal resources had been used since he went missing, police said.

Police inquiries into the man's disappearance are in progress.

Last month, an Australian businessman also went missing. He was driving home from the airport.

Two men have been arrested in relation to the disappearance of the Melbourne millionaire, Herman Rockefeller. Human remains were found eight days after his disappearance, but their identity has yet to be confirmed.

* Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Mr Atkinson is urged to contact Sergeant Grant Hand on 09 477 5000.