Alpine Energy board chairperson resigns

Wednesday, 30 April 2025

Alpine Energy director and board chairperson Melissa Clark-Reynolds has resigned and will leave the board in August.

The chairperson of the board of troubled lines company Alpine Energy has resigned after just a year at the helm and will leave the role in August.

Melissa Clark-Reynolds was appointed in April 2024, replacing former chairperson Warren McNabb who resigned in the wake of a historic overcharge scandal.

McNabb resigned two days before Alpine Energy told the community of the overcharging error, in which it took about $2 million per year more than it should have over a nine-year period from its customers.

Following McNabb’s resignation, Clark-Reynolds said she would “work for the community” to clean up the mess left by the error. She also confirmed the lines company had been aware of the error since August 2023, and that it had been picked up following an audit.

At the time, she said she was confident such an error would not happen again as the company had made changes.

TDHL general manager Frazer Munro says Melissa Clark-Reynolds had taken over the board at a critical time and had worked through a very complex and time-consuming process with the Commerce Commission following the historic overcharge error.

Clark-Reynolds has been approached for comment.

Timaru District Holdings Ltd (TDHL) general manager Frazer Munro said Clark-Reynolds, who was appointed by TDHL as an Alpine Energy shareholder, had achieved a lot.

“Melissa has been a director on the Alpine board since 2021, and chair since April 2024.”

Munro said she had taken over as chairperson of the board at a “critical time and has since worked through a very complex and time-consuming process with the Commerce Commission, achieving a positive outcome”.

Earlier this month, the Commerce Commission released its decision ordering Alpine Energy to refund customers $16.9 million following the error.

“She has also led significant strategic and operational improvements within the organisation,” Munro said.

In April 2024, Clark-Reynolds oversaw the first of two major shake-ups of the board, reassigning positions on committees.

Earlier this month, the Commerce Commission released its decision to order Alpine Energy to refund customers $16.9m.

Munro said she would continue as chairperson until the board elected a replacement.

“This will be completed prior to the conclusion of her tenure.”

Munro said any decision on when to recruit for a replacement director would be considered in consultation with the other shareholders.

“At the completion of Melissa’s tenure, the shareholders will review the board skill matrix and respond accordingly.”

Asked whether TDHL had any concerns about the resignation given the challenges faced by Alpine Energy, Munro said it did not.

“TDHL is not concerned by this resignation. Alongside all the shareholders, Melissa was part of the process that appointed three new directors to the board in late 2024.

“TDHL is confident that the existing board members have the skills and experience to govern the company.”

Former TDHL and Alpine Energy director Rebecca Keoghan resigned from both boards in December.

At the time, Clark-Reynolds said the shareholders, Timaru District Holdings Ltd, the Waimate and Mackenzie district councils and Line Trust South Canterbury, had jointly interviewed a shortlist of “very qualified applicants”.

“They chose three South Island-based men with solid backgrounds in the sector, and all with qualifications in engineering,” she said at the time.

Stephen Lewis, Anthony King and Albert Brantley were added as directors on November 20, joining Clark-Reynolds, Kevin Winders, Karen Coutts and Rebecca Keoghan.

Keoghan had since resigned and left the Alpine board in December having joined as a TDHL appointed director in 2022. Keoghan resigned from the TDHL board at the same time. She was replaced on the Alpine Energy board by TDHL director Aaron Bethune.

At the time of her departure, Clark-Reynolds described Keoghan as “hands down” the best director she had worked with in her career and said her contribution had been “enormous”.

Clark-Reynolds may not be the only departure from the board this year, with Line Trust appointed director Karen Coutts’ position also advertised. Coutts, who lived in Wellington but had family links to South Canterbury, was appointed to the board in July 2022.

Line Trust South Canterbury chairperson Mike Downes said the directorship was up for renewal and Coutts could reapply.

The role, which was advertised with recruitment firm Sheffield, sought a director with governance experience who was “ideally based in South Canterbury or has strong affiliations to the region”.

Applications would close on May 4.