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New Zealand Energy Corp. has reported the appointment of Gerrie van der Westhuizen as Interim Chief Financial Officer.
Gerrie joined NZEC in November 2012 as Vice President Finance, assuming responsibility for the Company's financial reporting obligations, tax compliance, global insurance and financial modeling. He was integral in overseeing and evaluating the financial aspects of the pending acquisition of assets from Origin Energy Resources NZ (TAWN) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Origin Energy Limited. Gerrie has been closely involved with the Company's operations and accounting teams in New Zealand, regularly travelling to New Plymouth to assist in streamlining period-end financial reporting controls, strategic planning and the introduction of new business processes.
Gerrie is a Chartered Accountant, designated in Canada and South Africa, with considerable experience in the natural resource industry, having been involved with organizations producing base, precious and alternative metals and minerals. Gerrie has held progressively senior positions within public accounting and industry and garnered significant experience in statutory reporting, including executing multiple IFRS conversion projects and championing SOX404 initiatives, equity offerings and IPOs. He has also been responsible for treasury management within complex debt structures and has managed multi-jurisdictional tax compliance and the implementation of fully integrated multi-currency ERP systems.
The Company thanks Chris Ferguson, the Company's outgoing CFO, for his contributions and wishes him well in his future endeavours.
The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Newton Cockerill to the position of Financial Controller, based in New Plymouth. Newton is an accountant with extensive experience in budgeting, forecasting and strategic planning. Newton's industry experience includes more than five years with Origin Energy NZ. He joined Origin in April 2008 and held progressively senior roles, most recently as Business Performance and Accounting Manager. Notably, Newton has been directly involved in the accounting and financial controls associated with the TWN Assets and the Waihapa Production Station, which NZEC is acquiring from Origin in partnership with L&M Energy Limited. Newton will offer valuable insight and assistance as the Company integrates the TWN Assets and Waihapa Production Station into its business and financial processes, following completion of the acquisition of assets from Origin.