Aurizon tech chief quits in restructure

An executive restructure at rail freight giant Aurizon has triggered the departure of its head of enterprise services after just under 12 months in the role.

Jenny Purdie

Jenny Purdie joined Aurizon last August following several years at miner Rio Tinto.

As vice president of enterprise services, Purdie led the CIO group and IT division as well as legal and general counsel, national policy, safety, health and environment, and the office of the company secretary. She reported directly into Aurizon's CEO Lance Hockridge.

But Hockridge today announced Purdie would leave the company at the end of the month following an organisational restructure that sees four of his direct report roles merged into two.

The enterprise services and human resources functions will be combined by the end of the calendar year, Aurizon said.

Purdie decided to leave the company as a result of the change, Hockridge said. She will depart at the end of the month. Current HR chief John Stephens has also decided to exit at the end of the year.

Aurizon's head of market development Steve Mann will act as the enterprise services boss while recruitment for a head of the newly merged division is undertaken.

Hockridge attributed the executive restructure to tough market conditions and a drive towards "greater efficiencies".

Aurizon is also currently transitioning in the CIO ranks, with Peow Goh to leave this month after informing the company of his departure last November.