2degrees’ Board members confirmed

2degrees today announced seven Board members have been confirmed, should 2degrees’ IPO proceed later this year.

Brad Horwitz, 2degrees’ current Chair says, “As part of our preparations for an IPO, we’ve undergone a rigorous process to identify and confirm an outstanding team of individuals to form the future 2degrees Board of Directors, should an IPO proceed. 2degrees will be guided by an experienced team to continue implementing its strategies.”

Following the announcement of Mark Cairns as Independent Chair-elect in July 2021, the following additional people will assume Board roles with Two Degrees Group Limited (2degrees), should the IPO proceed:

• Kathryn Mitchell
• Kenneth Tunnicliffe
• Meg Matthews
• John Stanton
• Brad Horwitz
• Erik Mickels

Speaking about the composition of the Board, Mark Cairns says, “We are all well aligned in terms of vision and values, and the strong and diverse voices around this highly experienced table will bring rigour to our decision making. I would be proud to lead such an outstanding team to serve 2degrees”.

The Board will work closely with the 2degrees executive team, led by CEO Mark Aue. Together the team has extensive experience in the telecommunications industry.

“We look forward to welcoming each of the Board members to the 2degrees whānau. Discussions during the Board selection process highlighted a true alignment of values; something we hold dear to our hearts as we continue with our purpose of ‘Fighting for Fair to make New Zealand a better place to live’. We’re excited about the prospect of starting a new era with a Board of this calibre,” says Mark Aue.

2degrees is considering making an offer of shares. No money is currently being sought and the shares cannot currently be applied for or acquired under the intended offer. If the offer is made, it will be made in accordance with the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 (New Zealand). Nothing in this statement constitutes an invitation to subscribe for or an offer of shares, equity or financial products to any person, whether in New Zealand or in any other country.

Mark Cairns – Chair-elect

Mark was Chief Executive Officer of Port of Tauranga, New Zealand’s largest and most successful port, from 2005 until his retirement in June 2021 to pursue a full-time governance career. Mark is a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand and has extensive experience in senior management roles in business operations at scale, including significant exposure to capital markets and essential infrastructure providers. Mark is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors and currently serves as a director of NZX-listed companies Meridian Energy Limited, Sanford Limited, and Freightways Limited. Mark has attended recent 2degrees Board meetings as an observer.

Kathryn (Kate) Mitchell

Kate has a background in Investment Banking, with over 20 years’ experience across a variety of roles with Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank. Kate is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors and currently Chair of USX-listed The New Zealand Merino Company as well as a director of NZX-listed Heartland Group Holdings and its subsidiary Heartland Bank, Christchurch International Airport Limited and a number of private businesses. Kate has attended recent 2degrees Board meetings as an observer.

Kenneth (Ken) Tunnicliffe

Ken was appointed to the Board by Tesbrit B.V. as a Non-executive Director on 1 September 2020. Ken has over 30 years’ experience in senior roles across the telecommunications, IT, accounting and manufacturing industries. His experience within the telecommunications and IT sector spans over 30 years across a number of senior roles including Enterprise Director of Vodafone New Zealand and Chief Technology Officer of both Vodafone New Zealand and Vodafone Turkey, and over 15 years with CSC and IBM. Ken also provides advisory services to a broad range of businesses. Ken is a Chartered Accountant and a member of both the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and the Institute of Directors New Zealand.

Meg Matthews

Meg is a qualified accountant with more than 20 years’ senior management experience across key business disciplines of finance, human resource management, strategic planning, and marketing. Meg held the position of Head of Marketing (Australasia) for Air New Zealand. She started at the national airline in Corporate Finance after beginning her career with Deloitte. A Member of the Institute of Directors, Meg is currently the Chair of Cawthron Institute, Nelson Regional Development Agency, and director of MEVO and the Halberg Foundation. Meg is of Ngāi Tahu descent.

Bradley (Brad) Horwitz

Brad joined the Board as a Non-executive Director on 25 September 2018, having served on the boards of other 2degrees companies since May 2008. Brad has almost 40 years of global telecommunications experience and has been involved with 2degrees since its inception. He is a co-founder of Trilogy International Partners and serves as its President and Chief Executive Officer as well as sits on its board of directors. Brad has held senior executive roles at a number of international wireless telecommunication companies, including President of Western Wireless International and Vice President of International Operations at McCaw Cellular. He is Chair of the board of Hong Kong Broadband Networks, a publicly listed company in Hong Kong and is also on the Board of the Center for Global Development and the Mobile Giving Foundation.

John Stanton

John is a wireless industry pioneer with more than 40 years of experience. He is a co-founder of Trilogy International Partners and is chairman and lead director of Trilogy’s board of directors. His former positions include Chairman and CEO of Western Wireless, Chairman of T-Mobile USA (formerly VoiceStream), Vice Chairman of McCaw Cellular and Chairman of Clearwire. He currently serves on the Board of Microsoft and Costco and is Chairman and CEO of the Seattle Mariners. John has been attending 2degrees Board meetings as an observer since March 2019.

Erik Mickels

Erik has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Trilogy International Partners since 2016. His previous roles include Trilogy’s Chief Accounting Officer, following 14 years in public accounting with firms including with Arthur Andersen and KPMG. Erik is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants. He currently serves on the Board for the Special Olympics of Washington (chair of Finance and Audit Committee). Erik commenced serving on the boards of 2degrees’ companies as a Non-executive Director in April 2017.