Council Boss Takes On Nrma Road Job
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday April 28, 2000
The former head of the Brisbane City Council, Mr Rob Carter, was appointed chief executive officer yesterday of NRMA Ltd, the road service association.
Mr Carter, 50, will replace Mr Eric Dodd, who will continue as managing director of NRMA Insurance, which has been given the green light from members to demutualise and float in a forecast $5 billion share listing in July.
Mr Carter's appointment, on a package of $440,000 plus bonuses, ends 13 years of shared management between the association and insurance.
Mr Carter has been with Brisbane City Council since 1994. There, he was in charge of a $1.6 billion budget and 6,200 employees. At NRMA, he will have a budget of about $150 million and a staff of 800.
He has a track record in restructuring and cutting employee costs, having shaved 10 per cent off Brisbane Council's costs in 1998-99.
In a statement yesterday, the NRMA said Mr Carter had delivered tangible results as the council's chief executive officer. He had initiated a 24-hour, seven-day call centre, and had restructured the council into a business-like organisation.
Mr Carter was previously the director-general of the Housing Corporation of New Zealand.
In a statement, the NRMA president, Mr Nicholas Whitlam, said: ``I believe that Rob's experience and proven ability will be a great contribution to the association as it embarks on a new phase of its history as a mutual motoring association."
If the proposal to float NRMA Insurance proceeded, he said, the association would have financial resources of at least $300 million.
In comparison to last month's tumultuous NRMA board meeting, dominated by a 90-minute shouting match between Mr Whitlam and another director, Ms Anne Keating, yesterday's meeting was a tame affair.
The anticipated showdown between the two failed to eventuate after director Mr Geoff Lawson was unable to attend, while anti-demutualisation director Mr Ian Yates remained on sick leave.
Mr Stuart Geeson joined Ms Keating this month in defecting from the Whitlam-led Members First team, and it is understood two other members of that team are reviewing their allegiances.
© 2000 Sydney Morning Herald