Aurizon has announced the appointment of Keith Neate as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer following an extensive national and international recruitment search.

Aurizon’s CEO, Lance Hockeridge, said that Mr Neate will bring extensive experience and a wealth of knowledge to the role.

“Keith has been instrumental in the delivery of a number of key initiatives at the Company including the recent negotiation of a suite of long-term customer contracts for our coal business,” Mr Hockridge said.

Mr Neate joined Aurizon in August 2011 to head the finance area for the coal business. He has been acting CFO since November 2012.

Before joining Aurizon, Mr Neate was the CFO at Virgin Blue for eight years and prior to that spent fifteen years at KPMG working in a variety of senior roles in Australia and the United Kingdom.