Council company boss wanted by Arizona court over 2018 drink-driving charges

Friday, 16 September 2022

Outgoing CCHL chief executive Tim Boyd has an outstanding warrant for his arrest in the United States.

The chief executive of Christchurch City Council's investment company is wanted in the United States over charges dating from 2018 relating to allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

Tim Boyd joined Christchurch City Holdings Ltd in March, but quit this month over “differences of opinion” with the board. His resignation as chief executive of CCHL is effective as of December 6.

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Ten charges were filed against Timothy Ayre Boyd in September 2018, according to case information obtained from the Arizona Judicial Branch and Scottsdale City Court.

“It is essentially a DUI case with multiple charges,” a Scottsdale Court clerk said.

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Tim Boyd quit earlier this month as the chief executive of Christchurch City Holdings Ltd, which oversees a number of city council companies, including Lyttelton Port. His resignation is effective as of December 6.

She said there was an “active warrant” for Boyd’s arrest on the case.

“It is a criminal case … it’s still a misdemeanour because we only handle misdemeanours in this court.”

In the US, a misdemeanour is a lower level offence than a felony.

“It’s still technically in the beginning stages because there hasn’t been a lot of correspondence between the defendant and the court,” the clerk said.

“The case has not been sentenced, so we’re still just in the beginning stages trying to get a plea, trying to agree on a plea.”

Christchurch employment agency Decipher Group worked with CCHL on Boyd’s recruitment.

Company director Leanne Crozier said “thorough background checks” were taken on Boyd, 44, in line with industry standards.

“Any charges against Mr Boyd without a subsequent conviction would not be picked up by these checks.”

A CCHL spokesperson said the company was neither aware of, nor was it provided any information relating to any civil or criminal cases involving Boyd in the US.

“This has formed part of the review into the recruitment processes and systems CCHL is currently undertaking.

“CCHL is unable to provide further comment relating to matters of individual employment or the personal information of any employee.”

Concerns about Boyd emerged earlier this week after BusinessDesk reported he had US civil court judgments made against him.

A lawyer for Boyd told BusinessDesk that Boyd had disclosed his full work history when he applied for the CCHL position. The lawyer also said Boyd had no criminal convictions in New Zealand or anywhere else.

A local law firm is now conducting “a thorough review” of CCHL’s recruitment systems and processes.

The Ministry of Social Development, where Boyd worked from April 2019 to September 2021 as a contractor, is also reviewing his work as a precaution.

The Ministry of Social Development was approached for comment.

Stuff has repeatedly tried to speak with Boyd through his lawyer, but neither has responded to requests for comment.

Stuff also visited a Queenstown property Boyd owns earlier this week, before news of the US drink-driving charge emerged.

This week, CCHL refused to say if Boyd was continuing to work and whether he was still being paid. The chief executive role has traditionally had a salary of about $350,000.

An interim chief executive, Paul Silk, has been appointed.

CCHL is wholly owned by Christchurch City Council and is responsible for overseeing businesses owned by ratepayers, such as Lyttelton Port, lines company Orion and Christchurch Airport.