The head of council-owned company Far North Holdings for the past 12 years has resigned to take up a new post as chief executive of the Northland Regional Council.
Malcolm Nicolson, 54, of Kawakawa, replaces Ken Paterson, who left the regional council in July to head the Tauranga City Council.
He joined Far North Holdings as executive chairman in 1999 and was made chief executive in 2008.
The company is owned by the Far North District Council, operating assets worth more than $50 million and including airports, wharves, marinas, car parks, commercial buildings and a boatyard.
Far North Holdings chairman Ross Blackman said the board of directors wished him every success in his new role.
"I understand he wants a new challenge, but we're very sorry to lose him."
It was pleasing that Far North ratepayers and residents would continue to benefit from Mr Nicolson's skills and expertise, especially with Far North Holdings and the regional council planning to work together for the betterment of the north. He had agreed to an orderly handover and was expected to take up his new role early next year.
Far North Holdings was now starting the process of finding a new chief executive.
Among his achievements at the helm of the company, Mr Blackman listed:
Upgrading Bay of Islands Airport to allow for passenger growth from 20,000 a year to more than 60,000;
Redeveloping Waitangi Wharf as a cruise ship tender terminal, without which the Bay of Islands wouldn't have a cruise ship industry;
Building a 230-berth marina and maritime building at Opua;
Acquiring Ashby's Boatyard at Opua and developing it as a marine services centre.
Mr Nicolson said he was proud of the positive relationships Far North Holdings had built with the Opua, Paihia and Russell communities.
"Our ability to participate in some of the visions communities have is maybe a bigger achievement than just putting a couple of buildings up ... There are times we disagree on things, but there's a constructive dialogue taking place all the time."
Mr Nicolson was born in South Africa, moving to New Zealand in 1996.
Tony Phipps has been acting chief executive at the regional council since Mr Paterson's departure.