PowerNet Chief Executive Jason Franklin has announced his resignation and will depart his current position on 2 April 2025 to become Chief Executive of Wellington based Powerco.

PowerNet manages most of the south's electricity assets, with depots in Invercargill, Lumsden, Gore, Balclutha, Te Anau, Frankton and Stewart Island.

It is New Zealand’s fourth largest electricity management company, while Powerco is the country's second-largest electricity and gas distributor.

Notable achievements under his tenure with PowerNet have included improved health and safety, the full acquisition of OtagoNet, establishing and growing the electricity generation business Southern Generation, driving network growth - particularly in the Queenstown Lakes area - and the sale of PowerNet, OtagoNet, and Lakeland by Electricity Invercargill Limited to The Power Company Limited.

Franklin is also a board member of Electricity Networks Aotearoa and SmartCo Limited, and a director of SBS Bank Limited and Great South.

He has previously held directorships with both Invercargill Airport and Rugby Southland.