Ex-Genesis boss takes up Otakaro reins

Former Genesis Energy chief executive Albert Brantley has taken over as chief executive of the new Crown company, Ōtākaro, based in Christchurch.

The job of Otakaro is to deliver the long-delayed post-earthquakes Crown anchor projects.

Mr Brantley says he wants to bring a sense of urgency to the project delivery.

The 66-year old takes up the reins officially on May 2 on a $500,000 annual salary.

At a media conference in the former offices of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority the chairman of Otakaro, Ross Butler, says chat around the board room table presages the style of transparency people can expect.

However, when asked about specific projects, Mr Brantley suggested it is far too early for him to make any comments.

When asked why he wanted to continue in a corporate role, he says he’s not the retiring type, and it was too good an opportunity to miss.

He and his family live at Kaiapoi on the outskirts of Christchurch. His youngest child is in his mid-teens.

He says he has read the latest Treasury papers into CERA’s shortcomings but he wouldn’t comment.

About 27 ex-CERA employees out of the total staff of 80, with knowledge of specific projects, have been taken on by Ōtākaro, he says.

Mr Brantley was at Genesis Energy for eight years before leaving recently.

He described several of the projects he helped deliver in a range of international industries and cities.

Ōtākaro will work alongside planning and policy council Crown quango Regenerate Christchurch.  Otakaro's Mr Butler is also on that board.

The projects Mr Brantley's team will deliver include a metro sports facility where design planning is under way, a convention centre, and possibly a rugby stadium, central city residential projects, and other yet-to-be-identified ventures.

Otakaro is also charged with looking after the Crown’s investment in the residential red zone, including a huge swathe of land that follows the winding Avon River to the coast.

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