New CEO Felix Richter at helm of Whangarei's largest land holdings company, Marsden Maritime Holdings

MMH owns a 50 per cent share in the neighbouring Northport, which is set to grow with port containerisation and the arrival of cruise ships.

This month sees a new chief executive at the helm of one of Whangarei's largest land holdings company, Marsden Maritime Holdings (MMH), as former Opus boss and engineer Felix Richter takes over.

Coming straight from a decade with Whangārei's WSP-Opus, where his most recent role was Manager: Civil and Structural, the new chief executive officer has more than 17 years of experience in management, leadership and civil engineering in New Zealand and internationally.

Set to join MMH this month, Richter is a chartered professional engineer with a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in civil engineering from the University of Technology in Dresden.

He is also a certified project management professional and has worked on several significant civil industry and local government projects in Northland.

MMH owns a 50 per cent share in the neighbouring Northport, which is set to grow with port containerisation and the arrival of cruise ships. It also has significant shares in North Tugz and it owns and operates Marsden Cove Marina and the adjacent commercial complex on that site.

MMH is owned by the Northland Regional Council (53.61 per cent), Port of Auckland (19.9 per cent) and public shareholders (26.49 per cent).

Richter takes over from Graham Wallace, who left in March after six years as chief executive.

MMH board chairman Sir John Goulter said Richter had a wealth of experience across the fields of engineering, commercial construction and project management, as well as environmental compliance.

"At this stage in Marsden Maritime's growth, where we are experiencing a very strong level of inquiry about business development at Marsden Point, these attributes are an excellent match, both now and for the future," Goulter said.