Dunn leaves NRW for SCEE

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has recruited NRW Holdings chief operating officer, Graeme Dunn, to lead the company as its new managing director.

Beginning in his new role from mid-January, Mr Dunn will take over from interim CEO Chris Douglass, who stepped into the position after Simon High left the company in March.

Mr Dunn will be paid a base salary of $650,000 per annum, including superannuation, plus incentives.

SCEE chairman Derek Parkin said Mr Dunn brought a successful track record of leadership, entrepreneurship, and project execution to the role.

“His considerable experience in contracting across multiple sectors, both locally and internationally, aligns well with our growth strategy from resources into adjacent or complementary geographies, sectors and markets,” Mr Parkin said.

A civil engineer with over 25 years’ experience, Mr Dunn held several leadership roles at Leighton Contractors over a 10-year span before moving to NRW, including executive general manager of the group’s energy division.

He also previously worked in a manager role at Downer.

Mr Douglass will return to his role at SCEE as chief financial officer.

SCEE underwent a considerable board reshuffle in May, when three of the company’s six board members, including former chairman John Cooper, walked out on the business, citing a difference in opinion over strategic direction as the company announced a number of redundancies and cost-saving initiatives.

Mr Cooper, Jack Hamilton and Peter Forbes all left the business, and were replaced by Mr Parkin as chairman and former chief operating officer Simon Buchhorn as a non-executive director.

SCEE shares were unchanged at 37.5 cents each at 11:20am.