Meridian Energy CEO Neal Barclay steps down in 2025 after seven years

After leading Meridian Energy since January 2018, Neal Barclay will step down as chief executive at the end of June 2025.

Meridian chair Mark Verbiest says the board sincerely thanks Barclay for his exemplary leadership.

“During his time as chief executive, Neal has grown a renewable development pipeline that will double the size of Meridian’s current asset base, championed customers and decarbonisation, secured a sustainable 20-year contract with New Zealand Aluminium Smelters and deepened Meridian’s relationships with a variety of stakeholders.”

Barclay has also continued to drive Meridian’s commitment as a leader in sustainability, he says.

“Neal’s vision has always been that businesses and countries who lead in sustainable practice will form the thriving economies of the future,” says Verbiest.

“He has been unwavering in his mission to ensure Meridian plays its part while providing long-term value for customers and Aotearoa New Zealand.

“Neal’s legacy will be this vision and his unique ability to balance commercial imperatives with a focus on people both inside and external to the company.”

The board says Meridian’s chief financial officer (CFO) Mike Roan has been appointed as the company’s next chief executive, taking up the new role when Barclay leaves.

Roan’s tenure at Meridian started in 2006 in the strategy team. Since then, he has taken on various leadership roles, including wholesale general manager and his CFO role, says Meridian.

Prior to joining Meridian, Roan held roles in the New Zealand electricity sector and banking and spent time working in the US.

Roan was recently awarded the Deloitte Top 200 CFO of the Year award.

Verbiest says the Meridian Board ran a comprehensive succession planning process, which included an international scan of talent, before appointing Roan.

“The Bbard is delighted that Meridian’s development programme and succession planning is nurturing world class talent,” he says.

“Mike has been the driving force behind several of Meridian’s strategic and commercial initiatives and his work has underpinned the company’s goal to build seven new renewable projects in seven years.

“He’s also played a key role in negotiating the new Tiwai Point demand response and supply contract, providing long-term certainty and flexibility to the electricity system.”