Kearney to retire as Cawthron chairman

The Cawthron Institute’s longserving board of directors chairman is stepping down at the end of the month.

Ian Kearney has been chairman of the Cawthron board of directors ever since the position was established in 2003.

However, after five terms, Kearney said the timing was right to move on.

‘‘Cawthron has a really good board and a really good management, so I thought it was a good time to step away.

‘‘The last time my term was coming up I indicated to the trustees I was thinking of stepping down.

‘‘They persuaded me not to, but this time I thought it was time.’’

Since Kearney took up the role, there has been significant growth in both the institute’s assets and production.

Since 2003, the organisation’s assets have grown from $6 million to more than $38m.

Staff numbers have increased from about 140 to more than 250, while the number of scientific papers published has gone from fewer than 20 to more than 100 in 2017.

Kearney said the move was part of a gradual ‘‘phasing out’’ from directorships, having retired from Network Tasman and the Housing Corporation of New Zealand in recent years.

‘‘It’s about managing time, spending time with grandkids, going whitebaiting and fishing and doing those sorts of things.’’

Kearney will remain on the board until the end of the month, when he will be succeeded by current Cawthron director Meg Matthews.