Ann: OFFICE: CEN: Contact announces Sir Ralph Norris to join Board

• Release Date: 11/09/15 12:45
• Summary: OFFICE: CEN: Contact announces Sir Ralph Norris to join Board
• Price Sensitive: No
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					CEN
11/09/2015 12:45
OFFICE
NOT PRICE SENSITIVE
REL: 1245 HRS Contact Energy Limited

OFFICE: CEN: Contact announces Sir Ralph Norris to join Board

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

Friday 11 September 2015

Contact announces Sir Ralph Norris to join Board as new Chairman

Today Contact Energy Limited (Contact) announced that Sir Ralph Norris has
been nominated to join its Board, and if successfully elected by
shareholders, will be appointed as Chairman.

"I am honoured to have been appointed to the Board of Contact and I want to
thank Directors for their endorsement," Sir Ralph said. "If elected by
shareholders at the annual meeting, I would look forward to contributing my
skills and experience and am confident that Contact, as it enters its 21st
year, will prosper as an independent company with a diverse range of
shareholders."

Phil Pryke, Contact's Interim Chairman said, "The appointment of Sir Ralph
follows a rigorous assessment of the skills and experience required to lead
the Contact Board as we seek to reconstitute it.

"Sir Ralph brings deep customer experience from a 40-year career in banking
as well as his transformational leadership during his time as CEO at both Air
New Zealand and Commonwealth Bank of Australia. We strongly believe Sir
Ralph's experience and expertise will greatly assist the Board in guiding
Contact as it continues to deepen its focus on providing customers with the
quality of service and products they expect and which will create long-term
value for our shareholders.

 "Over the past five weeks I have met with investors to discuss the
appointment of new board members and I have been pleased by the high degree
of engagement on this matter. Their input is valuable as we progress our
search for directors.

"I am sure, like me, they will be pleased to see such a high calibre
candidate as Sir Ralph joining our Board. Sir Ralph's experience and networks
will be invaluable in the appointment process for the additional directors.

"It has been an honour to have been involved with Contact from its
establishment and I am excited for its future but have decided to not stand
for re-election at the Annual Meeting. In the next few months I will work
with the Board, Management and Sir Ralph to assist in an orderly transition,
said Phil.

Sir Ralph will fill a casual vacancy from 12 November as an independent
director. If successfully elected by shareholders, the Board intends to
appoint Sir Ralph as Chairman immediately following the Annual Meeting.
Contact has yet to announce the date of its Annual Meeting but expects it to
be sometime in early December.

The Contact Board has determined that Sir Ralph Norris is an independent
director.

Sir Ralph is currently a Director of Fonterra Co-Operative Group, Fonterra
Shareholders' Fund, Origin Energy, New Zealand Treasury and Fletcher Building
Industries and Chairman of RANQX Holdings. He lives in Auckland. Sir Ralph
announced his intentions to step down from Fonterra and Origin in May and
June respectively.

ENDS

Investor enquiries: Fraser Gardiner 021 228 3688

Media enquiries: Nicholas Robinson 027 705 3831

About Contact
Contact is one of New Zealand's largest electricity generators and retailers.
We keep the lights burning, the hot water flowing and the BBQ fired up for
around 562,000 customer across the country.  Powering the country with
electricity, natural gas and LPG, our team of around 1,050 lives, works and
operates in communities throughout New Zealand.
End CA:00270020 For:CEN    Type:OFFICE     Time:2015-09-11 12:45:36