Northland Inc CEO David Wilson moves on

Northland Inc Chief Executive Officer David Wilson has resigned after more than five years at the helm of the regional economic development agency in Whangārei.

He is returning to Auckland to join his wife and children who have continued to live there since he assumed his CEO role in 2013.

Dr Wilson leaves at the end of March. “It’ll be a wrench to leave Northland Inc and Northland although the region will remain my second home because I have a family property in the Far North,” he says.

Northland Inc Chair Sarah Petersen says Dr Wilson has made a major contribution to the region during his CEO tenure.

“A key achievement during David’s watch was the 2015 release of the Tai Tokerau Northland Regional Growth Study, which identified significant economic and investment opportunities to grow employment and incomes in the North.”

Ms Petersen says the study created a regional economic action plan that has been a catalyst for Northlanders working together to improve the region’s collective outcomes.

“Northland has secured significant funding through the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) and that’s largely because Northland Inc was ready to go with a number of robust projects and initiatives across the region.”

Doctor Wilson was also instrumental in securing Northland as the national landing place for the US$440-million Hawaiki International Fibre Cable, opening competition in the market carrying internet traffic between New Zealand, Australia and the United States via the Pacific.

Northland Inc is funded through the Northland Regional Council and its chairman Bill Shepherd thanked Dr Wilson for his sustained efforts to improve the North’s economic performance. “We’ve had a great ally in David and the region is in a much stronger relative position today.”

Mr Shepherd says the high regard in which Dr Wilson is held – both locally and nationally – was reflected in February last year when he was appointed to central government's Provincial Growth Fund Independent Advisory Panel.  He was also the recipient of Economic Development New Zealand’s (EDNZ) distinguished service award last year.

“My fellow councillors and I wish him well in whatever new venture he undertakes.  Northlanders collectively owe him a great debt for his considerable efforts across multiple fronts on our behalf.”

Dr Wilson plans to maintain national leadership roles in regional economic development as EDNZ chair and a PGF advisory panel member.

“We know he’ll continue to create opportunities for Northland through this ongoing work,” Ms Petersen says.  “We look forward to maintaining our working relationship and continuing the economic momentum achieved during the last five years.”

Dr Wilson thanked the Northland Regional Council and the Board of Northland Inc for their considerable support. “My commitment now is to ensure the transition to new leadership is a smooth one.”