17 Sep 2019

Marsden Point refinery boss Mike Fuge to head Contact Energy

10:38 am on 17 September 2019

The head of the Marsden Point oil refinery operator has resigned to lead the country's biggest energy company.

Marsden Point oil refinery

Mike Fuge spent barely one year as head of Marsden Point oil refinery. Photo: 123rf.com

Mike Fuge will leave Refining NZ in March next year, barely a year after taking the job, to take become the chief executive of Contact Energy.

"The Board are pleased to have appointed a CEO with strong energy sector experience and capability to lead Contact's strategy," Contact Energy chairperson Rob McDonald said.

Mr Fuge had previously worked for Genesis Energy and an Australian power company, as well oil company Shell. He is expected to take up the new role by mid-March 2020.

He replaces Dennis Barnes, who has headed Contact for the past eight years during which it has spent close to $2 billion upgrading and developing its generation including a major geothermal plant.

Mr Fuge took over at Refining NZ last year after the pipeline break and disruption to fuel supplies.

The company has just been cleared of any fault by a government inquiry.