Published: 30 Mar 2012
Ports of Auckland director Rob Campbell has quit the port company board over differences in opinion.
Port chairman Richard Pearson confirmed Campbell's resignation today, saying it ''resulted from differences in views on board strategy''.
Ports of Auckland is currently embroiled in a bitter and lengthy dispute with the Maritime Union of New Zealand over its plan to contract out work on the waterfront.
The two parties are before the Employment Court today.
The port's council controlled shareholder, Auckland Council Investments, was responsible for board appointments, Pearson said.
Campbell, 61, came to public notice as a prominent unionist in the late 1970s but subsequently become known as a more politically complicated character after moving into business circles in the 1990s.
In a profile of Campbell last year former Labour Party President and now Labour MP Andrew Little said Campbell was known for "having changed his world view".
Another former Labour President Mike Williams said Campbell was known as the face of "modern unionism".
His resignation from the Ports of Auckland still leaves him with a bevy of directorship as he remains on the boards of 36 companies, including ACC, CallPlus and his own Tutanekai Investments.
Campbell also remains chairman of NZX-listed companies Guiness Peat Group and Turners & Growers.
Campbell did not immediately return BusinessDay calls.
