The changes are expected to help improve the company's financial performance
Rail freight operator Aurizon’s ongoing business transformation program includes a senior management restructure that will see the number of executive vice president (EVP) roles reduced to five.
Announcing the move, Aurizon MD Lance Hockridge says four of the company’s EVP roles will be merged into two.
While the strategy and business development and the commercial and marketing roles will be merged effective immediately, the duties of enterprise services and human resources will be integrated by the end of the year.
Hockridge says under the leadership of Mauro Neves, the new customer and strategy function will assume the responsibilities of both existing functions.
David Welch, current acting EVP for strategy and business development, will report to Mauro as the new vice president market development.
“In light of this change and the reduction in EVP positions, current executive vice president enterprise services Jenny Purdie has decided to leave Aurizon at the end of this month and executive vice president human resources John Stephens at the end of the year,” Hockridge says.
“As we transition to the new structure, John will continue in his current role and Steve Mann will act in the role of EVP enterprise services.
“A recruitment search, including internal candidates, will be undertaken for the new role leading the merged function.”
Hockridge says the merger of management functions and reduction in senior management roles is a result of “current tough market conditions” and aimed to “help deliver greater efficiencies in the company’s drive to continued improvement in financial performance”.
Further details about the business restructure will be made public during Aurizon’s full year results presentation on August 15.