Runaway Auckland manager 'stressed'

Grant Atkinson was found outside the Kumeu Cricket Club. Photo / Robert Trathen

A missing finance chief found disorientated and dishevelled after four nights sleeping rough was under stress at work, the Herald on Sunday has learned.

Police found highly-paid executive Grant Atkinson in Huapai, northwest of Auckland, about 8.45am yesterday, almost 100 hours after his bizarre disappearance.

A search and rescue base was set up in the township's domain after Atkinson's black 2007 company Holden Calais was found abandoned there on Thursday.

The 48-year-old had been sitting metres away for almost an hour before members of the 40-strong search team approached him.

He was wearing the same business trousers and blue dress shirt he was in when he left his $1.1 million home in Campbells Bay on Auckland's North Shore at about 8am on Tuesday.

Christina, his 45-year-old wife of more than 20 years, was contacted minutes later and was elated the disappearance had not ended tragically.

Her sister Debbie Rolling said: "We are really, really happy that Grant is safe and well. It is good news - we are very happy."

Family members and colleagues feared the worst after Atkinson's vanishing act.

He was last seen leaving for Marac Finance in Newmarket, where he worked as chief risk officer, for his first day back after a family holiday in the South Island.

A company brochure said Atkinson's role meant he was responsible for "all aspects of Marac's credit business, including credit approval, review, collection and recovery".

His company cellphone had not been used since Monday and his fuel card was last used at the Shell service station near his house at 11am on Tuesday.

One person connected to the search said police had ascertained Atkinson's disappearance was work-related. Another police source said his anxiety hinged on a particular bad loan.

Marac executives moved to calm such reports yesterday.

Chief investment officer Craig Stephen dismissed concern about pressure felt by Atkinson after the company offloaded $173m of property loans for $90m.

He said the value of the loans and their sale had been extensively checked by independent experts. Shifting the bad debt was part of Marac's bid to boost its credit rating and earn a banking licence.

Speaking before Atkinson was found, Stephen said his mysterious disappearance was "out of character".

"We're at a loss. It's the most unusual behaviour. His family and our staff here are very nervous and very worried."

He acknowledged Atkinson was under stress, but said it was no more than he had already faced during his 14 years with the company.

"He's a senior executive, stress is part of the job."

Yesterday Stephen said he had been "frantic with worry" over his colleague's disappearance and was relieved he had now been found.

Marac chief executive Jeff Greenslade dismissed links between Atkinson's work and disappearance as "speculation".

"Grant is a well-respected and well-liked professional. We're just pleased he is back."

Atkinson was noticed by people arriving for junior cricket at Huapai Domain yesterday because he was a single man without a child.

One mother selling chocolate as a fundraiser stopped to chat to him as he sat on the patio of the clubrooms, facing the sun.

She said he was dishevelled and disorientated and his business shirt had tears in it.

Atkinson asked her who the search and rescue team were and said they looked like they were going for a tramp.

Minutes later, two members of the search team stopped to talk to him. Kumeu resident Tim Giles, who was setting up for children's cricket, said one sat down next to Atkinson and, after speaking for 30 seconds, the pair walked to the gathered searchers.

It appeared Atkinson was ready to be found. He had eluded officers since they had found his car on Thursday and started what witnesses described as a methodical search.

Officers had arranged to obtain security footage from inside the domain clubrooms, despite being assured there were no signs of a break-in.

The source involved in the search said Atkinson did not have a dedicated bolthole and moved from place to place.

The domain covers a large area and has a toilet block. It is surrounded by a mix of residential and rural properties. Neighbours reported no signs of disturbance or sightings of strangers in the area.

A stream of well-wishers visited the Atkinson home yesterday afternoon and Rolling said the family was recovering from a "stressful" few days.

"We are very glad and appreciative, especially to the police. Everyone is very relieved. We are just unwinding."