The board which will handle the government’s investment in ultra-fast broadband infrastructure over the next 10 years has been named, and includes one of Telecom’s biggest allies in the fibre fight.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce today appointed Crown Fibre Holdings’ inaugural board, which will be chaired by Simon Allen, former NZX chair and founder and former managing director of ABN AMRO New Zealand.

Andrew Body, Miriam Dean QC and Keith Tempest have also been appointed board members, but the final appointment may raise some eyebrows.

Telecommunications consultant Dr Murray Milner has 34 years experience in the New Zealand ICT industry, but has recently been notable for producing a report on the cost of fibre to the home which formed a central plank of Telecom’s twin submissions for a single national fibre network.

Dr Milner previously held a variety of senior positions within Telecom New Zealand including, until September 2005, Chief Technology Officer.

But Mr Joyce said Crown Fibre Holdings was being created to be an “expert and independent decision-making body”, and the appointed board represented the range of skills and experience necessary to deliver the government’s ultra-fast broadband initiative.

“Delivering ultra-fast broadband to 75 percent of New Zealanders where they live, work and study within the next ten years is a key priority for the Government."

Appointments are for a three-year term, commencing immediately. Further Board members may be announced at a later time.

Mr Allen formed ABN AMRO New Zealand as a green-fields operation in 1988, resigning as chief executive in September. He has already advised the Crown on the sale of Contact Energy, the Auckland Energy Trust on its investment in Mercury Energy (now Vector) and Telecom on the largest share buy back in New Zealand history, while chairing the NZX from 2001 until 2008.

Mr Body has 19 years experience as a successful investment banker and private banker, serving as a director of FR Partners until 2001, while Ms Dean QC is a former partner at Russell McVeagh and was made Queen’s Counsel in 2004.

Mr Tempest will join the board after retiring as chief executive of TrustPower, after 23 years with the firm.