TransGrid chair Jerry Maycock thanked Italiano for his leadership during a transformative time for the business.
“The board is grateful for the contribution Paul has made to TransGrid and more broadly to Australia’s energy system,” Mavcock said.
“During his tenure Paul transitioned the business from public to private ownership at a time of unprecedented external change.
“We thank Paul for his vision and leadership as CEO and the board wishes him well in the next phase of his already successful career.”
Over the last five years, Italiano oversaw the creation and growth of TransGrid’s commercial arm – the recently rebranded – Lumea.
He also played a central role in driving Australia’s transition to a more robust and sustainable National Electricity Market (NEM) and oversaw TransGrid’s investment and delivery of interconnector upgrades between NSW and Queensland, NSW and Victoria and the Powering Sydney’s Future project to better deliver Sydney’s electricity needs.
In May this year Italiano played an instrumental role in securing regulatory approval and TransGrid’s investment in EnergyConnect, the new interconnector between NSW and South Australia, which is one of the largest transmission projects to be planned in the NEM for a generation and which will deliver substantial benefit to NSW consumers.
The business also progressed planning for Humelink in southern NSW connecting Snowy 2.0 to the network and Australia’s first coordinated renewable energy zone in the Central West Orana region of NSW.
Italiano has been the driving force of TransGrid’s innovation program which has included the first large-scale grid battery, currently under construction at a TransGrid substation in western Sydney.
Under Italiano’s leadership TransGrid embarked on its Reconciliation journey and is currently implementing its Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan. He committed the business to building relationships and providing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Italiano said it has been an honour to be the CEO of TransGrid since its privatisation in 2016 and praised employees.
“TransGrid is filled with incredibly talented people, who are highly dedicated and committed to ensuring the vital role transmission plays in Australia’s electricity system is delivered with excellence,” he said.
TransGrid’s executive general manager, Brian Salter, has been appointed acting CEO while a global search is undertaken for a new CEO.
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