Our management team comprises seasoned professionals with extensive expertise in shipping and logistics. With a diverse set of backgrounds ranging from marine services consultancy through to naval operations and engineering, this team is well placed to provide innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs and challenges of global trade.
Jon is an experienced mariner and port operator. He has led the Northport team since 2007, during which time the port has experienced unprecedented growth and volumes. Before this he was deputy harbourmaster and operations manager at Fremantle in Western Australia, and harbourmaster and maritime manager in the Bay of Plenty. He is an experienced marine surveyor and has also held senior roles in stevedoring service companies around New Zealand.
Nick joined Northport as the Company Accountant in July 2003, bringing valuable experience from his previous roles as Management Accountant at Cogent/Ubix in Auckland and Operations Finance Planning Manager with Lion Breweries. In addition to his accounting responsibilities, Nick serves as the Company Secretary for both Northport Ltd and North Tugz, overseeing compliance and governance. He is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand and the Institute of Directors.
David, formerly Northport's Port Operations Manager, has over 20 years of experience in senior operations and technical roles at complex, safety-critical sites. Before joining Northport in 2014 he served as Infrastructure and Operations Manager at Trawsfynydd nuclear power station in Wales. His early career included work with the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine fleet. David is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and holds an Honours Degree in Engineering.
Greg joined Northport in 2008 as Terminal Facilities Manager, overseeing land and wharf infrastructure, including buildings and equipment. He collaborates with customers to address their development needs and supports Northport’s Operations team and port users. Greg trained as a land surveyor, gaining valuable experience during the initial construction of Stage 1 of the port. He later worked as a surveyor in Auckland and for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in the UK.
Jae joined Northport in 2010 as Marine Supervisor and became Operations and Marine Manager in July 2016. He oversees the Operations and Cargo team, Port Services Centre and marine operations, providing support to port users and customers using the Northport facility and Whangārei Harbour. Before Northport Jae worked in the Auckland Regional Council Harbourmaster’s Office, the Royal New Zealand Navy as a Navigation Officer, and in the Environment Bay of Plenty Harbourmaster’s Office.
Julia Hoare joined the Port of Tauranga Board in August 2015 and currently chairs its Audit Committee. She has a wide range of commercial, financial, tax, regulatory and sustainability expertise developed from both her extensive governance roles and over the course of two decades as a partner with PwC.
Julia is Deputy Chair of The a2 Milk Company Limited, and a Director of Auckland International Airport Limited and Meridian Energy Limited. She is President of the Institute of Directors and a Member of the Chapter Zero New Zealand Steering Committee.
Rosie holds a BE(Hons) (Civil), MEngNZ and is a member of the Institute of Directors.
She was appointed general manager of sustainability at Ports of Auckland in April 2019 and has nine years of experience in management, leadership and engineering.
Rosie was a member and deputy chair of the Provincial Growth Fund Independent Advisory Panel from 2018 until March 2021. She served in the NZ Army in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010 as an engineer officer for the Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Leonard was appointed Chief Executive of Port of Tauranga in 2021, having previously been the Chief Operating Officer since September 2019.
He joined the Company as Port of Tauranga's Commercial Manager in 2013 from the role of General Manager - Sales at KiwiRail. He also held senior roles at Carter Holt Harvey and Mainfreight.
Benoit has more than 30 years' experience in the logistics, agri-food processing and trading sectors, through a number of executive positions held in different regions around the world.
In 2002, the Marcenac family settled in New Zealand and made it their new homeland.
For close to 17 years, Benoit has been the Managing Director and Shareholder of Sofrana Unilines, a leading shipping company operating in the South Pacific. Benoit is also a Shareholder and Director of Export Plus Ltd (export of food products) and a Shareholder and Director of Sofi Holdings Ltd (commercial real estate).
For many years, the Marcenac family has owned a farm in Northland and have deepened their anchorage in this region.